Dramatic moment huge 30ft boulder plunges down unstable cliff on the Jurassic Coast as shocked walkers stand just yards away

This is the terrifying moment a huge 30ft boulder cascades down an unstable cliff in Dorset while shocked walkers stand just yards away.

A huge section of the 180 million year old cliff at West Bay in Dorset where the hit ITV drama Broadchurch was filmed broke away after being pounded by Storm Nelson.

About 400 tonnes of large sandstone rock and boulders slumped onto the beach at 11.30am on Friday when the beach was busy with walkers.

Luckily, nobody was hurt by the rockfall, which was captured on video by Omar El-Haj who was holidaying in Dorset with his family.

The rockfall is the latest incident in the notoriously unsafe area - holidaymaker Charlotte Blackman was crushed to death in 2012 and signs state the area is dangerous.

Mr El-Haj, who was with his wife Jael and pet poodle Ori, captured the scary moment and watched on in horror at the people standing close by.

He said: 'There were a lot of people around and we were worried if there was anyone there but we looked at the footage and didn't see anyone.

'It is just one of those unexpected moments. You see the signs saying it's dangerous and people were still very near the area. It was amazing to see.

'Who knows, we could have been down there, it goes to show you have to believe the signs.

'The feeling when it happened was of amazement at how magnificent that cliff is and how dangerous and nerve-wracking it can be if you don't respect it.'

The rockfall occured at the entrance of the beach at West Bay, which is a popular section of the beach.

A member of the public said: 'The latest rockfall is quite close to the end near West Bay, about 50 yards from the main beach.

'There have been a few people milling around it and one person even walked over it.

'People are ignoring the fact it is unstable.'

Drone photographs show people putting their lives at risk afterwards by walking up to the 30ft tall pile of rocks to get a closer look.

The area is notoriously dangerous and earlier this year a combined 1,000 tonnes of rock broke away from the cliffs following winter storms.

Although there are warning signs at the top and bottom of the cliffs telling the public to keep away, people have said there should be more of them.

Signs around the unstable cliff warn of a danger to life and in 2012 tragic holidaymaker Charlotte Blackman was crushed to death after standing underneath the cliff at Burton Bradstock.

Local resident Brian Jones said: 'It's not going to be long before someone dies. Surely the beach should be closed.'

People took to social media to say they had seen groups of people, including sixth form students, huddled under the cliffs in the past week.

Cathryn Phillips said: 'There were a group of 6th form students under these cliffs last week. They did have hard hats on so nice and safe!'

Baldyone Sears added: 'Omg we were sitting there last week.'

Wes Neale said: 'And this is why you don't go near cliff edges or walk under them my grandparents drummed that into me as a kid.'

The cliffs are made up of sandstone rock which is porous and acts like a sponge with rainwater which seeps down through it and weakens it over time.

At the same time strong waves whipped up by winter storms batter the base of the cliffs which also helps destabilise them.

Geologist Richard Edmonds believes the rockfalls were a consequence of global warming.

He said: 'We are experiencing extreme weather both in terms of the waves and rainfall.

'A warmer atmosphere carries more water and more energy and that's what drives storms. The energy in the atmosphere is transferred into wind and rain.

'Because there is so little beach at West Bay the sea undermines the base of the cliffs so the more powerful the waves are, the more it is undermined.'

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: 'Rockfalls and landslips can happen at any time. If people are out on the coast then they should take notice of warning signs and keep to existing paths and stay away from the edge and the base of cliffs.'