The National Trust says it is monitoring Birling Gap closely after an estimated three metres of clifftop was lost to the sea during this year's storms.

Yesterday, .The Argus published Peter Hibb's shocking graphics which highlighted the “unprecedented” speed of erosion at Birling Gap near Eastbourne.

The pictures show how, in a matter of weeks, the cliff-face has drastically changed shape.

A spokesman for the National Trust said the erosion is already more than the average metre a year. But the trust’s buildings near the cliff’s edge are specially designed to be dismantled quickly.

He added: “What we have to remember is that these cliffs are iconic for being white and this wouldn’t be the case if they weren’t constantly crumbling away.”

With more bad weather on the way the spokesman said the dramatic erosion could continue and said the area will be closely monitored.