Cliff landslip claims third house

A large section of the Lloyds' back garden disappeared last week

A third home is set to be demolished as a landslip continues to threaten cliff-top properties near Scarborough.

Last week more than three feet of garden collapsed within hours at Kevin and Mary Lloyd's holiday home at Knipe Point overlooking Cayton Bay.

The couple from Redcar, Teesside, who bought the house 17 years ago, were told to demolish it at their own cost.

Two neighbouring properties on the National Trust land were bulldozed last month after their gardens fell 100ft.

The National Trust is investigating why the land has slipped.

A previous report found that natural drainage processes and the impact of water seepage from nearby developed land were factors causing the slump.

The couple have had to pay for their own house to be bulldozed

The Lloyds left their holiday property for the last time on Tuesday ahead of the demolition.

Mr Lloyd said: "That was the hardest part, having to organise the demolition.

"There has been absolutely no assistance with it, you would expect better from the authorities.

"I just don't think they have faced up to it soon enough."

The cost of demolition will come out of the couple's insurance.

Mrs Lloyd said: "It does seem unfair. We are losing a house through no fault of our own and we will be lucky if we get less than half of what it is worth."

Meanwhile, neighbour Tony Charlesworth, who lives in a semi-detached bungalow near the Lloyds, has been told to remove his possessions from his home as a precaution.

His family is helping him find somewhere else to live.

Standing in his garden just feet from the cliff edge, Mr Charlesworth said: "If the crack occurs where I am standing now then I have got to worry, I'll have to get out then."