Above and below: The cliff fall at St Margaret's Bay. Picture: Paul Tutthill

Walkers are being warned to stay away from the edge of the cliffs between Dover and Deal following a massive chalk fall.

Thousands of tonnes of chalk have crashed down into the sea, taking a bench, which people used to sit on to admire the view, with them.

A new fence is being erected along the cliff to keep people out of danger, and warning signs have been posted in the area.

The latest fall is just north of St Margaret’s Bay, near where The Leas meets Hotel Road, not far from the Dover Patrol Memorial. It is one of the biggest in recent years. There was a smaller fall at Langdon a few months ago.

The freezing winter weather and rain is thought to have been partly responsible for the chalk breaking away and crashing down, as well as natural erosion.