Extreme rainfall contributed to a catastrophic landslide which forced two families to leave their homes.

The weather, combined with other factors such as the steep sloping land and, potentially, leaking pipework, led to the disaster in which the gardens of two properties disappeared.

The findings are in a specialist report into the incident at Old Roar Gill nature reserve in Hastings in February.

The report, just published by Hastings Borough Council, was produced on behalf of its insurance company.

It states that further landslides could happen again.

Specialist consultants Diales looked at the topography, geology and hydrogeology of the affected area. 

It said further investigation to understand the ground conditions was needed before stabilisation works can go ahead. Diales said stabilisation works need an “accurate ground model for the area” to be effective.

It recommended a groundwater monitoring regime for a minimum of six months to a year.

This has not started and the consultants warned there could be further land movement if stabilisation works do not take place. 

The council said it was waiting for consultants to come back with a quote for further survey works, which will determine its next steps.

Diales' report was discussed by cabinet members on Monday as part of an update on work to establish the council’s new land stability team, which was granted funding in June.

Stephen Dodson, the council’s head of strategic programmes, said: “The recommendations from that report is that we commission a survey to look into the recommendations that the council was asked to do.

“This is a very complex site, a very difficult site.

"We are speaking with the people who normally do the council’s cliff management works. They are in the process of trying to get the costings and the understanding of what will be required to carry out that work. They were hoping to get that to me by the end of this week, however because of the complexity it may be a few days after that.

“These are really complicated, they are not quick wins and I wouldn’t want anybody to think that we are taking an action here which will be a quick resolution.”

The report has been published in full on the council’s website. It is accompanied by commentary from the council and an FAQ answering queries from residents.

Alongside it the council has published a residents’ toolkit, setting out how homeowners can lower the risks of landslides and what to do when one happens.