Fossil hunting safety

British fossil cliffs are productive precisely because they are collapsing. Falls happen without warning, in any weather, and a fist-sized rock from fifty metres is lethal. Do not sit beneath cliffs, shelter under them, dig into them or climb them.

Keep a distance at least equal to the height of the cliff wherever the beach allows it, and treat fresh debris at the base as a warning rather than an opportunity.

Being cut off is the commonest serious incident. Check the tide table for the specific beach on the day, go out on a falling tide, and turn back at least ninety minutes before low water if the return involves a headland.

Sites with a known cut-off risk include Saltwick Bay near Whitby, the foreshore east of Hastings, Filey Brigg, Folkestone Warren and Port Mulgrave. The Bristol Channel and Severn have the largest tidal ranges in Britain and the tide there moves faster than people expect.

• Weeded rock ledges are as slippery as ice — boots with real grip, and slow movement
• Clay mudflows can be deep enough to trap a boot or a leg; avoid them
• Falling debris is a risk in any landslip; a hard hat is sensible at sites like Aust and Port Mulgrave
• Tell someone where you are going, and take a charged phone

Dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard for anyone cut off by the tide, trapped in mud or injured on a beach. Do not attempt a rescue across a rising tide or through soft mud yourself.