CORNWALL Council is advising residents and visitors to take extra care when using the coast path and beaches in Cornwall over the next few months.

The advice follows an unprecedented period of wet weather which has resulted in more than 35 significant cliff falls around Cornwall's coast line since last November.

The Council currently has 18 footpath closure orders in place on the South West Coast Path alone as the popular attraction heads into its 40th anniversary year.

"Council staff can't recall a more challenging time for the management of beaches or footpath network across Cornwall" said David Attwell, Cornwall Council's Principal Countryside Officer. "We have seen repeated cliff falls as a result of the severe weather conditions we have experienced throughout November, December and January, resulting in many paths being closed or diverted inland."

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