Couple with child found camping on edge of ‘extremely perilous’ 280ft cliff

Family warned by coastguard and spoken to by police after witness reported tent ‘dangerously close’ to cliff

A family has been pictured camping on a cliff edge “dangerously close” to a sheer 280ft drop.

HM Coastguard responded to a report of two adults and a child who pitched their tent on the Cleveland Way, North Yorkshire.

The coastguard received a call from a member of the public just after 1pm on 27 February after they saw a tent set up close to the cliff edge.

Staithes and Whitby Coastguard Rescue Teams found the family and gave them safety advice. The family “appeared to be unaware of the dangers”, said the coastguard.

North Yorkshire Police were also informed of the incident and an officer attended due to the possible breach of current coronavirus restrictions.

It is not known if the family were issued with any fixed penalty notices.

Adam Turner, senior coastal operations officer for HM Coastguard, said: “The family were in an extremely perilous position and had no idea of the danger that they were in. Cliff edges are really unstable and can easily collapse as recent landslips have shown.

“If you live near the coast and are in a position to take your exercise there in line with current Covid-19 restrictions, please take care near cliffs.

“Keep to paths and stay well back from the cliff edge. Check the weather and tides before you head out, wear appropriate sturdy footwear and take a fully charged mobile phone so if the worst should happen you can call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

In January, a warning was issued over a large landslip on Cleveland Way and people were urged to avoid using a crumbling footpath on Huntcliff which had been battered by Storm Christoph.