Woman killed as cliff collapses

The collapsed cliff face is south of Whitehaven Harbour

A 55-year-old woman has died after a cliff face collapsed in west Cumbria, trapping her under the debris.

Attempts were made to revive Caroline Palser, but she was pronounced dead at the scene at South Beach in Whitehaven.

It is believed Ms Palser, from nearby Frizington, was in a party walking under the cliff when it collapsed at about 1150 GMT. No-one else was hurt.

A Cumbria Fire Service spokesman said recent heavy winds and rainfall had probably weakened the cliff face.

Fire crews and the coastguard service attempted to rescue the woman from under the debris but they said a large part of the cliff face had fallen on her.

A spokesman for the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said: "I think she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"We understand she was walking along the shore and part of the cliff face, about 20ft (6m) high, gave way and buried her.

"We assisted to make the area safe and to get the lady out, but she was pronounced dead."