A cliff fall has left a section of seafront walkway in Peacehaven blocked.

Huge chunks of chalk broke away from the 80ft cliffs at the end of Vernon Avenue, Peacehaven.

The collapse is thought to have been caused by freezing rainwater which had seeped into cracks in the cliffs.

Environmental health officers are now assessing whether the cliff-face, which is regularly used for abseiling, is dangerous.

Lewes Council environment chief Ian Kedge said: "It appears to have been a substantial fall which was probably caused by the weather."

Emergency repairs were carried out on Saturday after part of the cliff between the Bastion Steps and Brighton Motel collapsed on Friday night.

For the past two years Peacehaven Town Council has complained about the number of charity abseil permits issued for the spot.

Council leader Tony Howard said: "I was waiting for this to happen and it shows how inherently unstable those cliffs are.

"It doesn't bear thinking about what would happen if there was a collapse when someone was abseiling down the face or a person was walking below."

Fellow town councillor John Livings said: "It is quite dangerous."