Fossil hunters have hit back at allegations they could have caused the cliff collapse which cost Sheppey mum-of-five Emma Tullett her home.

Swale councillor Peter MacDonald accused some groups of digging at the base of the cliffs at Eastchurch and undermining anti-erosion netting put in place by villagers.

But Gary Walker, who runs the Sheppey Fossil Forum Facebook page, said: "Fossil hunters who come to this Island know better than to dig into the cliffs. And they certainly wouldn't remove anything being used as an attempt at a sea defence.

"It has made us all look bad. The only people who might do this are complete amateurs. You don't need any tools to collect fossils here.

"We have people coming from all over the world and regular coach parties from Denmark. But they know exactly what they are doing. You can see them on their hands and knees searching through the shingle on the beach. There is very little chance of finding fossils on the cliff face itself.

"One of our fossil hunters even reported seeing cracks appearing a few days before this drama unfolded.

"I constantly post warnings about the dangers of getting too close to the cliffs and mud and also post information about the tides.

"If Cllr MacDonald has evidence of fossil hunters causing damage to the cliffs I would be very interested to see it. Otherwise, I think he should make an apology."

Mr Walker, 35, from Minster, also dismissed attempts to stop cliff erosion with matting as "futile" and said the use of old car tyres was "illegal."

He said: "I really feel for the family of the house which has been destroyed, as it must have been a very unsettling and distressing thing to have happened. Perhaps more should have been done to have stopped the sale of properties to people who had little or no idea that this would be a possibility?"

Another fossil hunter, who did not want to be named, said: "The residents were told that netting would not work. But it was installed anyway, to the detriment of the birds which are now unable to nest on the cliffs.

"The netting probably helped the cliff erode because it helped pull the cliff down when it became wet. Now it is gone it will become litter in the sea to trap birds and fish."

Cllr MacDonald remained unrepentant. He said: "Mr Walker and his team may not be doing it, but we have witnessed others who have, and we have told them it is illegal because the cliffs are a site of special scientific interest. The Sheppey Fossil Hunters may be responsible people but there are plenty of others who aren't."

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