Residents and visitors in East Sussex have been warned to steer clear of a cliff edge after a large crack heightened its risk to people on and below the rock face. The pretty coastal spot of Birling Gap, between the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head, is a popular spot for hikers, with beautiful chalk cliffs offering sweeping views and a rich history of smuggling and shipwrecks. Coastal erosion has made the area increasingly dangerous in recent years; however, extreme weather has destabilised the chalk and has prompted the National Trust to urge tourists to stay at least five metres back from the cliff edge at all times.

The body of protected sites issued a fresh warning this week, stressing a new urgency to avoid the area after a large crack appeared on the edge of the cliff—meaning a chunk of it "could collapse at any time." "It isn't safe to sit or stand close to the edge of the base of the cliffs as they may be unstable or undercut in places and can fall without warning," a spokesperson said.

"We urge all visitors to be responsible and stay safe, by keeping back from the cliff edges and bases when visiting the area."

A crack also appeared in the rock at nearby Beachy Head in March, and just under a decade ago, a huge chunk of chalk fell from the cliff face at Birling Gap, marking one of the largest falls in half a century.

The stretch of undeveloped coastline attracts around 600,000 people each year, with coachloads of visitors stoking local fury when they clogged up roads around East Sussex earlier this month.

The National Trust announced in mid-April that coaches would be banned from the beauty spot in an attempt to mitigate pressure on the vulnerable landscape.

A spokesperson told The Argus: "We welcome over 600,000 visitors every year to this small rural clifftop location that is vulnerable to coastal erosion.

"We've seen a significant increase in coach visits in recent years, which the site is unable to cope with.

"We continue to welcome visitors by car, motorbike, minibus and bus service."