Walkers on the coast path around the Lizard have been warned to take care after large number of cliff falls blamed on the wet weather.

The warning from Cornwall Council comes after more than 35 significant cliff falls around Cornwall’s coast line since last November.

The council currently has 18 footpath closure orders in place on the South West Coast Path alone as the popular attraction heads into its fortieth anniversary year.

“Council staff can’t recall a more challenging time for the management of beaches or footpath network across Cornwall” said David Attwell, Cornwall Council’s principal countryside officer. “We have seen repeated cliff falls as a result of the severe weather conditions we have experienced throughout November, December and January, resulting in many paths being closed or diverted inland”.

Although the Council has been responding to a wide range of incidents across the whole of Cornwall, the area of the south coast from the Lizard through to the Tamar has been particularly badly hit.

Whilst a programme of repairs is due to start in the next few weeks it is anticipated that some sections of the coast path will remain closed into the main holiday season.

Members of the public using the countryside are reminded to take extra care and avoid straying from the coast path or wandering near the cliff edge. A general warning has also been issued to beach users to be cautious under or near cliffs following a recent failure at Whipsideery near Newquay.

Anyone who wishes to report a problem on the coast Path or a beach should phone 0300 1234 202.