Walkers have been urged to be wary of rockfalls after hundreds of tonnes crashed 200ft to the base of Beachy Head.

The fall, just east of the Belle Tout lighthouse near Eastbourne, left a huge mound of rocks.

It has led to the cliff-face being driven back to within a few metres of a private footpath running up to the famous lighthouse.

As high tide receded by mid-morning yesterday, a stack of rocks several feet high was visible.

Coastguards warned further prolonged rain could lead to more falls and warned beach walkers to be careful.

A spokesman said: "The cliff would be saturated with the consistent rain during the past few days.

"This creates the potential for further falls so we would ask people, such as dog walkers or beach strollers, to be aware."

In January 1999, about 50,000 tons of rock plunged into the sea in one of the most spectacular cliff-falls at the beauty spot. The latest fall happened on Tuesday afternoon.