Shocking photos show visitors sitting on edge of Dorset cliffs
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Hit ITV drama Broadchurch has already caused a tourism boom on the Dorset Coast, with flans flocking to the iconic spots featured in the show.
Now shocking photos have emerged showing visitors sitting right on the edge of the crumbling, 80ft cliffs, putting their own lives and those of beachgoers below them in danger.
The sandstone cliffs, which have become an iconic part of the ITV mystery drama, are notoriously unstable and prone to land slips.
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The shocking photos, taken by a local, show people sat right on the edge of the 80ft cliffs in West Bay
Passers-by stopped to take pictures of the shocking scene which put both the people on the cliff and anyone standing under it at risk
Despite numerous warning signs urging people to stay away from the edge, the photos have emerged showing the people sitting close to the precipice, just days after the first episode of the second series of Broadchurch aired.
One hotel booking website said interest in Broadchurch had already led to a 200 per cent increase in holiday searches for Dorset and Somerset, following the airing of the second season.
And there are fears the sandstone cliffs will attract more tourists who will leave the safety of the coastal footpath to get a better look at the famous view.
A local resident took the pictures of people ignoring safety signs to sit on the edge of the cliff.
She said: 'I was walking towards West Cliff when I saw the scariest sight - sitting perched right on the cliff edge were three people taking photos.
'They were sat with their legs dangling over the edge for at least ten minutes.
'Down at ground level others were taking photos of them but were quite concerned about their reckless, shocking and irresponsible behaviour.
'I just hope that these photos might save one person's life at least.'
Tourists standing at the edge of cliffs can dislodge rocks that could fall and injure people below
Mark Collins, from West Bay coastguard, said: 'Anyone going that close to the edge is risking themselves, anyone below them and us if we have to go and rescue them.
'I don't understand why people don't heed the warnings, there have been several accidents there.
'People tend to want to look over the side and they don't quite realise they are just stood on turf with nothing below.
'It's hard to say what effect the new series of Broadchurch will have. Local people know how unstable the cliffs are, it's visitors that don't understand the risks, but there are signs at every entrance to the cliff walk so people should see them.'
The ITV drama, starring Olivia Coleman and David Tennant, has returned to screens for a second series
The West Bay and Bridport area experienced an increase in visitor numbers after the first series was aired in February 2013.
Fans flocked to the area to view the now famous spots, including the cliffs where 11-year-old Danny Latimer was found dead at the start of the first series and the West Cliff chalet which was later revealed to be the murder scene.
This influx of visitors is expected to start again after the second series started airing on ITV last Monday.
Geologist Richard Edmonds, from Dorset County Council, said the main risk was to people on the beach below if rocks at the top are dislodged.
In July 2012, 22-year-old holidaymaker Charlotte Blackman was killed by a rockfall at nearby Hive Beach at Burton Bradstock.
Mr Edmonds said: 'People don't seem to think these continuous safety warnings apply to them but that is very much the case.
'The main thing to be concerned about is that they might dislodge rocks and hit people below on the beach.
'The top of the cliff is quite weathered and climbing around by the edge could cause rocks to tumble down and really hurt someone.
'We want people to enjoy themselves, it's just a matter of being sensible.
'They might think they are not going to fall but that's not the main risk. They should think about other people and not do anything stupid.'
The mystery drama has a;ready prompted a tourism boom to both Dorset and Somerset, where it is shot
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