A LARGE section of cliff in West Dorset has collapsed after it was pounded by torrential rain and high winds – with experts warning more could fall in the coming days.

The cliff, at Burton Bradstock near Freshwater Beach Holiday Park, has collapsed on to the beach, leaving a large overhang of the cliff edge.

It is not yet known how big the rockfall was, but it is believed to have been "substantial".

Now, coastguards are warning that due to the high winds and heavy rain in recent days and with more deluges expected heading into 2016, more of the cliff could be set to collapse.

A spokesman for HM Coastguard said they were called at midday today, alerting them to the fall.

The spokesman said: “We sent coastguards down there to check the cliffs.

“What’s happened is that there has been quite a substantial cliff fall in the area because of the large amount of rain.

“There are members from the council up there as well, and the coast path has been shut so there should be no risk to the public.

“We would urge members of the public, especially in this weather, to stay away from the cliffs because there could be some more falling because of the amount of rain we have had the cliff will be unstable.

“We understand people might want to go there to see the cliffs but they should do it from a safe distance and to do it safely.”

The bad weather is a result of Storm Frank, which has slammed into the country over the past week.

Although the north of England and Scotland have endured the worst of the weather and the subsequent flooding, Dorset has endured high winds and heavy rain for a number of days.

Sam Rose, Jurassic Coast World Heritage team leader at Dorset County Council, said: "It looks like a fairly typical rockfall for Burton Bradstock.

"It appears to have happened at high tide, so hopefully no one would have been on the beach at the time.

"It's what this coastline does and what makes it so important.

"Erosion is the result of ongoing weathering.

"One day we will have a landslide with a lot of mud at Charmouth, the next we might have a rock fall at Burton Bradstock.

"The cliffs are made of different material and, unlike Charmouth, Burton Bradstock is definitely not a place for fossil hunting.

"People should stay away from the top and base of the cliffs and follow the National Trust guidance on signs around the coast."