More reckless idiots dice with death on the edge of Birling Gap as dozens of sunseekers crowd perilously close to the crumbling cliff face

Throngs of tourists diced with death on the crumbling cliff edge of the Birling Gap today, despite two major cliff falls in the past four months. 

It comes as the UK experienced its hottest weekend of the year so far, with temperatures reaching highs of 26C (78.8F) on Saturday and 27C (80.6F) today.  

Shocking photographs showed crowds of people venturing perilously close to the edge of the cliff face, posing for photographs and peering over to see the 530ft drop, as they soaked up the sunshine.

In one photograph, a tourist is sitting down with their feet dangling over the cliff edge, as she arches her body towards the camera. 

The iconic cliff face near Eastbourne, East Sussex, where the South Downs meet the sea, is a popular tourist destination. 

It is part of the world-famous Seven Sisters cliff walk and is a National Trust site.

But as the chalk cliffs are constantly changing, landslides and cliff falls can happen at any given moment — and tourists have been warned to stay well clear of its edge.

The National Trust says: 'Our white cliffs are beautiful but also very fragile. 

'They may appear safe to stand on, but chalk is a soft rock that can be become unstable through heavy rain, frost, sun or undercut by wind and wave action.'

Visitors have been told to stay at least five metres back from the cliff edge at all times, as well as five metres back from the base of the cliff. 

The Trust also encourages people on the beach below to stay at least 5m away from the cliff base at all times, to reduce the risk of objects and rocks from above hitting them. 

Brits flocked to parks, beaches and tourist hotspots today on the 'hottest day of the year' so far, but thunderstorms and rain are expected today. 

Three thunderstorm warnings for the majority of Wales, as well as parts of southwest and northwest England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, have been issued.

The upcoming week is turning cooler with persistent rain, cloudy skies and sunny intervals. 

Last month, emergency services were called to Birling Gap after four people started a fire beneath the unstable cliffs.

In January, the beach below was closed after a section of the cliff fell away, amid fears of further rockfalls.

And last March, huge chunks of the Seven Sisters cliff fell onto Birling Gap beach after the coastline was lashed by high winds.

A similar incident in March 2021 resulted in warnings to the public not to pose for pictures close to the cliff edge. 

Last summer, tourists were seen laying down a picnic blanket just feet from the edge.

And last month a tourist was pictured dangling his feet off the edge of the Burling Gap while casually smoking a cigarette.

Photographer JJ Waller captured the distressing image. He said: 'This is almost a daily occurrence despite the warnings.

'Visitors aren't aware of how soft the chalk is - and crowds flock to this spot in search of the all-important selfies.

'But while it is a beautiful location, it demands respect and care. Never go by the edge.'

The pictures were taken on Good Friday, the same day a terrifying incident unfolded in Dorset where a 30ft pile of rocks fell just metres from where families were taking an Easter stroll.

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. 

Studies carried out by the National Trust showed the cliff edge is likely to recede by as much as 25-30m (82-98ft) by 2036.

The erosion is so rapid that part of the historic Birling Gap Hotel - which dates back to the 1870s - is currently being demolished and rebuilt further from the cliff edge.

Now used as a café and visitor centre by the National Trust, it was just five yards from collapsing into the Channel.

The cliffs have cracks hidden under the turf that get bigger as they erode through a combination of wind and water pounding it from the English Channel.

In 2017 a South Korean student died when she slipped off the edge of the crumbling cliffs after jumping in the air for a photograph.

Hyewon Kim, 23, who had come to Britain to improve her English, suffered catastrophic head injuries in the fall.

Photographs found on her mobile phone showed the student happily posing with her back to the cliff-edge in the seconds before her death.