TWO amateur fossil hunters have been slammed for climbing up the face of a cliff in west Dorset - which saw a recent landslide.

The two men were spotted clambering up the 65-foot high mound of mud and rubble that dramatically slipped from 200-million-year-old cliffs by Black Ven beach as recent as November.

The couple were dwarfed by the unstable heap as they searched for fossils on the beach near Lyme Regis.

READ MORE: Landslip at cliffs popular with tourists and fossil hunters

Bournemouth Echo: A couple were dwarfed by the unstable heap as they searched for fossils on the beach at Black Ven near Lyme Regis, Dorset. (Image: MarkBlow/BNPS)A couple were dwarfed by the unstable heap as they searched for fossils on the beach at Black Ven near Lyme Regis, Dorset. (Image: MarkBlow/BNPS)

The spot on the Jurassic Coast is frequented by tourists hoping to find fossils but the unstable cliffs are also notorious for landslides.

When the slip happened in November last year, locals described it as the 'largest in over a decade.'

West Dorset resident Mark Blow spotted the people from a distance as he walked his dog and 'couldn't believe his eyes.'

He said: "It's a popular spot for fossil hunting by locals and tourists alike.

"It is also highly risky to be doing fossil hunting in that area especially when there are quite frequent landslips.

"Most locals hunt on the actual beach itself but never on an active landslip like those two idiots.

"I was just taking my dog for its daily walk when I clapped eyes on those two.

"I could see something moving on the landslip from a distance and as I got closer I was gobsmacked to see people actually on it. I reckon it was about 20 metres high (65ft).

"I was born and bred here and I know that even the most experienced of the fossil hunters in Lyme Regis never climb an active landslip.

"It was so unusual I had to take the photo. Hopefully it will warn others."

Bournemouth Echo: They were spotted clambering up the 65ft high mound of rocks, rubble, and mud that dramatically slipped from the 100ft cliffs. (Image: MarkBlow/BNPS)They were spotted clambering up the 65ft high mound of rocks, rubble, and mud that dramatically slipped from the 100ft cliffs. (Image: MarkBlow/BNPS)

Rob Samson, west Dorset area manager of HM Coastguard, said: "That part of coastline is very unstable particularly after a landslide like the one we saw last autumn.

"I wouldn't go anywhere near it. There is no telling when the next load will slip again.

"There are professional fossil finders with specialist knowledge about the geology of the area and know how stable the rocks are. If you're an ordinary member of the public all I can say is stay away and don't be tempted to climb a landslide."

Bournemouth Echo: (Image: MarkBlow/BNPS)(Image: MarkBlow/BNPS)