A MASSIVE cliff fall has claimed land near two South Devon clifftop homes and brought them perilous yards closer to the sea.

Thousands of tonnes of earth and rock crashed on to the beach at South Milton near Kingsbridge, taking part of the gardens with it.

Part of the coastal footpath was destroyed and it has had to be diverted to keep walkers away from the dangerous cliff edge.

Ian Pedrick, landlord of the Hope and Anchor pub at nearby Hope Cove, warned that the two homes, below, thought to be worth £400,000 each, are now right on the cliff edge.

He said: "A massive part of the cliff just came away and both those houses are now getting really close to the edge.

''They've only got small gardens and there's now just a few metres between the sea and them."

He also warned there was a danger other parts of the cliff in that area is also threatening to collapse.

The cliff path is owned by the National Trust and the cliff top sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We have to face up to the fact the tide cannot be held back forever.

"Sea level rise and climate change are forecasted to increase the scale and pace of coastal change.

"Many coastal sites such as South Milton Sands are at risk from erosion more than ever before."