Video footage shows much-loved Isle of Wight beauty spot Devil's Chimney has succumbed to Sunday's devastating landslip in Bonchurch, the Isle of Wight Council has said.

The path connecting the chimney to the coastal path and the section of coastal path beneath the slip is also feared lost, an update released today (Tuesday) has confirmed.

It means, The Wishing Seat and The Shelter, on the footpaths below Leeson Road, are likely to have been destroyed.

Further east, it is understood Victorian folly, The Lookout, is still in one piece, but it is teetering on the edge of a cliff and is now inaccessible to the public.

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It follows the "shocking" collapse near Ventnor on Sunday night. In total, around 20 'at risk' properties were evacuated and some gardens succumbed to the landslide.

At the Smugglers Haven tea rooms, a car, the cafe's gardens and a container full of personal belongings plummeted around 60ft down a cliff.

The Isle of Wight County Press spoke to the devastated family behind the tea shop at the scene yesterday (Monday).

Today, the council has confirmed the loss of Devil's Chimney.

Do you have memories of Devil's Chimney? Maybe you celebrated a birthday, just loved walking or even popped the question there?

  • If so, share your have memories and pictures of Devil's Chimney by emailing editor@iwcp.co.uk.

The beauty spot, which was popular among walkers, leads to the Bonchurch Landslip nature reserve, below Smugglers Haven.

It is run by Gift to Nature, on behalf of of the Isle of Wight Council. 

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said: “For safety reasons, it has not been possible to get too close to the Devil’s Chimney at Bonchurch.

“Viewing the video footage and photographs gives an indication that the devil’s chimney itself, the path connecting the chimney to the coastal path and the section of coastal path beneath the slip have all been lost and destroyed by the landslip.  A full inspection will take place in the future, but only when safe to do so.

“The public are reminded all public rights of way in the area are closed and they should respect the signage and barriers for their own and others safety.”

At a press conference yesterday, the council's service director for waste, environment, and planning, Tash Dix, said the landslip has been one of the largest she had seen in 15 to 20 years.

She confirmed there had been no loss of life and no damage to the properties.

For those unable to return home safely, residents are being advised to return to collect their belongings only between the hours of 10am and 4pm, for short periods of time.

What is the Isle of Wight Council landslip helpline number for residents?

  • If you are affected, call the Isle of Wight Council's helpline, on 01983 823111

The council said the cliff remains unstable, with further movement expected, but it said it was confident the biggest part of landslide had happened.

There are further 'stress fractures', it confirmed, though it said these were not in the road surface itself.

Leeson Road is shut between The Landslip car park and Bonchurch Shute.

The council said it aims to reopen this, but only when it is safe to do so.