Video shows moment cliff crashes down onto beach

An ex-marine has captured the moment a cliff crashed down onto a beach as he scrambled for safety.

Hughie John Morris, 67, from Rhydwyn, had stopped to film stones falling on Porth Swtan, also known as Church Bay, in Anglesey, during a beach walk on Wednesday.

"You could feel, hang on, something's happening, then the next thing whoosh the whole cliff came down," he said.

Anglesey council has asked people to avoid the area following the landslide, with part of the coastal path closed.

Morris, who reported the incident to local authorities, said the landslide was the second on the beach in the last 18 months.

"I don't know if it needs to be cordoned off or not to be safe," he said.

"It's the beach itself and walking near the cliff or lying down would be the biggest issue when you see how quick it goes.

"Just imagine that happened in summer or at Easter, people lying down sunbathing, it would have been horrendous really," he added.

Morris, who grew up in the area and swims at the beach all year round, said it was popular with dog walkers in the winter months.

He said it had been the stormiest winter since his return to the area in 2020, after spending 45 years away from "paradise".

"The driving wind and rain on the structure over years takes its toll," he said.

Sioned Jones, Anglesey's coastal path officer, urged people to avoid the area.

"Warning signs have been put in place and a temporary diversion will follow. The council is working to assess the situation as quickly as possible, with a view to reopening the path or implementing a more permanent solution at the earliest opportunity," she said.