Nature bites as Welsh landslide leaves homes close to cliff edge

Public advised to avoid the area as local authority confirms an investigation will take place

Tonnes of mud and rock crashed onto the beach below bringing the cliff edge closer. Reuters

Several homes were left on the edge of a cliff after a huge landslide sent tonnes of mud and debris across a Welsh beach.

The landslide, in the village of Nefyn, North Wales, which overlooks the Llyn Peninsula, completely destroyed residents' gardens.

The Welsh Ambulance Service reported no injures.
"We could see the coastguard shouting to someone in their garden to stay aware from the edge because it was still moving," said resident Steve Wilding-Hewitt.

"You can see a bench that was at the end of one of the gardens has fallen into the mud below.

"There have been some rocks fall around this coastline for a number of months, but never anything like this. It is frightening," he said.

Hairdresser Christian Pilling saw the immediate aftermath. "We'd just gone down for a walk and turned around and had the shock of our lives.
"I don't think anyone was on the beach. We'd gone down there about half an hour after it happened. "[The landslide is] a good 40 metres wide, but it's hard to tell."
North Wales Police said: "We are aware of people gathering to take photographs – the public is advised to avoid the area until further notice."

Local authority Gwynedd Council confirmed there would be an investigation.

"Arrangements have been made for an initial investigation of the cliff to be carried out," it said.