The National Trust has urged people to stay well away from the site of a devastating cliff fall that has destroyed a much-loved beachside cave in Cornwall.
Holywell Cave was an ancient natural landmark at Holywell Bay near Newquay. For centuries, visitors came to the hollow, and it was cherished by locals and tourists alike.
However, a catastrophic cliff fall over the weekend sent hundreds of tonnes of stone crashing down, smothering the cave entrance.
The National Trust, which looks after the cave, has released a statement.
It says: "We are aware of the substantial cliff fall at Holywell Bay and are monitoring the situation closely. Our priority is the safety of visitors and we urge people to stay well back from the affected area, both on the beach and from clifftop paths, as the cliff remains unstable and further rock falls are possible.
"We know Holywell Cave is a much-loved feature of this coastline and many people will be saddened by what has happened. At present the cave is completely covered by the rock fall and is inaccessible."
The rockfall happened early on August 30. Parts of the land remain unstable.
The cave was set in the south west corner of Kelsey Head and could be reached at low tide from the north east end of the beach at Holywell Bay.
A natural spring descended through a multi-coloured grotto at the back of the cave. It was thought to be the origin of Holywell Bay’s name.
For centuries, people made pilgrimages to the cave to cure their ailmentswith the sacred spring water. At its entrance, small, slippery steps carved into the rock hundreds of years ago had become barely distinguishable, worn down by centuries of feet climbing up into the cave.
Newquay Coastguard has also warned people to stay clear of the rockfall.
David Hawken, clerk for Cubert Parish Council, urged visitors to take extreme care if they go to the area. He said hundreds of tonnes now cover the cave and he probably would never see it again.
The National Trust added: "Cliff falls are a part of our ever-changing coastline, but they can happen without warning. We encourage everyone visiting the coast to remain vigilant, keep a safe distance from cliff edges and bases, and follow any local safety advice."
Warning Issued After Rockfall Smothers Famous Cornish Cave