Ventnor flats unsafe and Isle of Wight man shocked after collapse

Keith Salisbury was in his garden when the land around him gave way, earlier.

The 78-year-old had left his greenhouse and was walking through his garden gate when it collapsed.

The gate itself is now lying among bricks and rubble, which has dropped around 10 feet, onto an area of concreted land below.

• Read more: Ventnor land collapse prompts Isle of Wight safety message

He told the Isle of Wight County Press he felt the movement of the earth under his feet, and heard an almighty noise, as soil, infrastructure and flora came crashing down. 

Another local resident, Robert Marks, said today's collapse 'could have been so much worse' had it been later in the day.

The emergency exit steps have been taped off. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)

Resident Keith, 78, was walking to his garden gate, which has now collapsed 10ft below. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press.)

A huge area of earth is now piled up, between West Street and Victoria Street.

St Catherine's School residents are among those affected.

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From the Island's special school, Sarah Thompson said the alarm was raised by a student who called to say there had been a landslide. 

The ground is continuing to fall and three students can no longer access their accommodation, because their emergency exit is unusable.

Sarah must now find temporary accommodation for them and is worried she may have to ask them to stay home for a time, impacting on their education. 

Sarah says she is 'so grateful' students were out of the building when it happened. 

She said: "If they had been coming down those steps, that would have been a tragedy.

"I can't imagine coming here and having to get someone out of that."