A LIGHTHOUSE could be moved further away from a cliff edge within the next few decades after a "worrying" cliff fall took out a public path.

Belle Tout lighthouse has a "few decades" before cliff erosion becomes critical and it has to be moved back, its owner has revealed.

It comes after a huge cliff fall wiped out a public footpath near the site, which is walked on by thousands of visitors every year.

The bed and breakfast was moved 56ft back from the edge of the cliff in 1999 by the engineering work of Abbey Pynford.

It could face the same fate again but David Shaw, who bought the building near Beachy Head in 2008, said there is "some time left" before the erosion reaches a critical state.

He told The Argus: "It is worrying that we had this big fall, worryingly close.

"It is in that particular section only and that is the nature of the erosion.

"Different areas collapse from time to time and we did know that was a vulnerable spot.

"That is the place where the cliff edge came within a metre of two within the road.

"If a fall was going to happen, we anticipated it would be there anyway so it is not a total surprise.

"The recent high winds and heavy rain it has triggered it.

"Hopefully we've got a few decades before it is critical.

"At some stage that will have to be looked at."

In 1691, petitions for a lighthouse were made due to the number of shipwrecks and sailors losing their lives at the hands of this dangerous stretch of coastline.

By 1828, as a continuing result of many shipwrecks, a wooden lighthouse was built on the top of the cliffs at Beachy Head.

So successful was this that the decision was made to build a permanent lighthouse.

This led to the building of Belle Tout in 1832 and the location of the lighthouse was carefully planned so that the light was visible for 20 miles out to sea and that the light would be obscured by the edge of the cliff if sailors were too close to the shore.

The Argus: Belle Tout was moved back from the cliff edge Belle Tout was moved back from the cliff edge

However, over the years, erosion of the cliff reduced the effectiveness of the lighthouse and in 1902 Belle Tout was decommissioned when the new lighthouse built at the base of the cliffs came into service.

Since the latest cliff fall, the coastguard has warned those visiting Birling Gap to stay well away from the cliff edge.

A spokesman said: "Hopefully this photo can serve as a reminder as to why we ask people to stay away from cliff edges and bases.

"This huge missing section has cut right into the old path to the east of Belle tout lighthouse.

"As you can see by the photo, collapses can happen a fair way In from the actual edge.

"Please, please, please stay away from the edge.

"In a coastal emergency dial 999 and ask for the coastguard!"