The number of suicides at Southerndown Cliffs has increased

Southerndown Cliffs near Ogmore in the Vale of Glamorgan has become a notorious suicide spot, with nine deaths since December 2000.

The Samaritans hope that by erecting signs offering their help they will help prevent any further deaths there.

The charity want to put two signs similar to those found on the Clifton suspension bridge in Bristol and at Beachy Head cliffs in Sussex by two phone boxes near cliffs which are more then 100 foot high.

They are now waiting for a decision by the Vale of Glamorgan council before the signs are put up.

The initiative has come from Bridgend Samaritans, who are concerned about the number of suicides which take place at Southerndown Cliffs.

Although suicide often appears to be an impulsive act, we believe that is the final step in a process Alyson, The Samaritans

"We approached the council because there was no sign of any reduction in the number of fatal incidents at the cliffs," said Alyson, the director of the Bridgend branch.

"The Samaritans have had 50 years of experience speaking to people who are under extreme stress.

"The more someone talks about the pressures that are driving them to think about suicide, the less likely they are to go ahead.

"Although suicide often appears to be an impulsive act, we believe that is the final step in a process.

"The person may not have spoken to anyone, but the likelihood is that they have been thinking about it for some time," she said.

Signs encouraging people to contact the Samaritans when feeling suicidal have been erected at a number of sites across the UK including the Menai Bridge in north Wales.

The Bridgend group wants to put the signs near a phone box close to a cafe at the top of the cliffs and on the emergency phone at the foot.

"We want to be able to offer people who may be thinking about suicide a chance to talk about their problems," said Alyson.

Signs have been placed either end of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

"To stop suicides, someone has to break into the process and we hope that the signs might have that effect," she added.

The Samaritans are being supported by the Friends of Glamorgan Heritage Coast which is chaired by Heather March.

"There have been several unfortunate deaths at Southerndown Cliffs," she said.

"The Samaritans are experts in this field and if they think it is a good thing to do, I can see no objection to it," she added.

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Her comments were echoed by Julian Golunski of the cliffs' landowners, Dunraven Estates.

"We have taken a number of measures ourselves to try to prevent suicides, like putting up wooden posts to stop people from driving over the edge and realigning the footpaths," he said.

"When the Samaritans approached us, I was a bit sceptical at first but they have said that it has been proven to work at Beachy Head.

"We just hope that this will help people," he added.

The decision about whether to allow the sign to be erected is being discussed by the Vale of Glamorgan council.

A spokesman for the local authority said: "The council is looking at a request made by the Samaritans and we are waiting for a decision."