A summer of tourists dicing with death has led the coastguard to produce a new safety campaign telling people to stay away from cliffs.

People have been seen picnicking or posing for pictures just feet away from a 500ft drop this summer despite strong advice telling people to stay away.

The Argus: A cliff fall near Beachy HeadA cliff fall near Beachy Head (Image: HM Coastguard)

Pictures captured in recent months show people standing perilously close to the edge, even taking selfies above giant cracks in the clifftop.

Tonnes of chalk fall from the cliff each year in dramatic collapses which take huge areas of land with it - sometimes with people still on top, leading to deadly consequences.

The Argus: A man clinging to a wall at the edge of the cliffA man clinging to a wall at the edge of the cliff (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

One image captured in July shows a man clinging onto a wall close to the edge of the cliff.

This same area is featured in the opening shot of HM Coastguard's latest campaign, showing a huge cliff fall, telling people not to be "fooled" by how sturdy cliffs can look.

The national search and rescue organisation has told people to stay well away from the cliff edges as winter weather rolls in making clifftops more prone to collapse from big waves and high winds.

Philip Carter, from Horsham, was on a weekend trip to the coast when he noticed a woman just feet away from the edge on the May Bank Holiday.

He said: "I was thinking just how idiotic it is.

"No picture is worth the risk. I had my heart in my mouth. Just one gust and it could have been a disaster."

The Argus: A woman on the edge of a cliffA woman on the edge of a cliff (Image: Philip Carter / The Argus Camera Club)

East Sussex County Councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said it was vital people took care on the cliffs.

She said: “We want people to be able to come to East Sussex and enjoy the beautiful surroundings but to do so safely.

“The cliffs are extremely unstable and prone to regular chalk falls, putting visitors at risk if they don’t take care when on top of the cliffs or on the beach below."

The Argus: Eastbourne RNLI near the base of the cliffsEastbourne RNLI near the base of the cliffs

Lewis Arnold, coxswain and mechanic at Newhaven RNLI, has previously said: "The cliffs around our East Sussex coastline are made of chalk and can be very fragile with huge cracks appearing and rocks falling on those below.

"Please stand well back from cliff edges and keep your dog on a lead too as we want everyone to make it home safely after a great day out."