VISITORS have been urged to keep away from cliffs at Hengistbury Head following landslides.

Large warning signs have been placed in the area to keep people away from the edge and from the base of the cliffs.

But many visitors ignored them, standing near the edge and sitting underneath cliffs over the recent warm and sunny weekend.

Signs near the main car park say: "Danger, beach ahead closed. Due to high tides and landslides a section of beach between Hiker Cafe and Long Groyne is not accessible.

"Please exercise caution, take a different route and avoid walking at the cliff base."

Further towards the top of Hengistbury Head, more sings say: "Danger, unstable cliff. Please exercise caution, take a different route and avoid walking near the cliff edge."

A BCP Council spokesperson told the Daily Echo: "Following a cliff slippage at Hengistbury Head in December, we identified the area between Hiker Café and Long Groyne at most risk and we continue to urge visitors to be vigilant. Our rangers installed fencing and signage warning our visitors of the dangers and these are checked daily.

"As we are approaching warmer weather, we would ask everyone to please continue to exercise caution, take a different route and avoid walking at the cliff base - don’t put yourself, your children or pets at unnecessary risk."

There have been several landslides in recent weeks in Dorset and Hampshire.

Members of the public were urged to stay away from an area near to the Pines Hotel in Swanage last month.

And just days later part of a garden in the Highcliffe Road area of Swanage plunged down the cliff on to beach huts below.

An area of cliff roughly 20 x 4 metres also fell at Barton-on-Sea, near the Hoburne Naish holiday park, in February.