A NEW campaign has been launched to raise public awareness of rock falls and landslips on visits to the coast this summer.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is leading the campaign with Scarborough Borough Council, the RNLI and the Coastguard, to help people understand the dangers of rock falls and landslips, and to highlight how they can minimise the risks of injury.

A spokesman said there had been more than 55,000 recorded rock falls on the 100km of Scarborough’s shoreline, and the council had installed new signs in key locations giving specific advice regarding each area.

The campaign urges the public not to walk at the foot of cliffs as they are unstable all year round, never to play, sunbathe or picnic at the base of cliffs, never to attempt to climb the cliffs, and to beware of falling rocks and debris from the cliff top.

The public is also urged to keep away from all cliff edges as they may be dangerously undercut by erosion and wave action.

The campaign will be using the hashtags #bewarewhatsabove and #areyoureallybeachaware and launches today.