Somerset hotelier forced to cancel bookings as cliff collapses

A Somerset hotelier has been forced to cancel bookings after a huge crack appeared in the earth, just feet from her clifftop hotel.

On Friday, Cara Storm posted shocking footage to Facebook showing the enormous crack, which runs across the length of the Blue Anchor hotel and pub in Watchet, on the edge of Exmoor.

Storm has been forced to close the hotel to overnight guests, however the pub and restaurant remain open, with the situation carefully monitored.

Storm told The Caterer: "On Wednesday it was just literally a hairline crack, then on Thursday morning we woke up and the crack was about an inch and by the afternoon it was like it is now. It literally happened throughout the day, it was just falling."

"I have closed the hotel because I cannot have guests here overnight."

Storm, who took over the hotel in 2014, said there had been no sign of damage at that time.

She added: "In 2014 there was very little erosion, if any. I have never seen anything like it in my life, it's just the hugest piece of land.

The Environment Agency have visited the site and been "very supportive", advising Storm of grants she could apply for in a bid to protect the site.

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