An investigation has been launched after a dramatic rock fall in St Andrews.
Fife Council officials initiated the probe after a massive section of stone crashed to the ground on an area of rugged coastline close to the Scores.
The latest incident comes less than three weeks after the nearby Castle Sands beach was closed after a landslip.
One member of the public said the huge rock fall had clearly taken place very recently.
“It looks as if it is just a few days since this happened,” he told The Courier.
“The rock sits under water at high tide, yet there is still earth and grass which has not been washed away and the rock is remarkably clean and weed free.”
The local resident believes there was a large cave at the site, but that it has now been destroyed.
“The rock fall is right underneath a boundary wall and at the end of someone’s garden,” he said.
“It looks as if it was a large cave which has collapsed with pretty dramatic consequences.”
Meanwhile, another member of the public said the latest incident comes around a quarter of a century after a similarly major rock fall at the same site.
Fife Council officials confirmed they were looking into the matter.
Beaches and coast officer Robbie Blyth pledged to keep members of the public up to date with developments.
“We have been made aware of the rock fall and are in the process of investigating the matter.
“Once we have completed our investigation we will update the community on the next steps.”
The popular Castle Sands beach was closed at the start of April. A safety cordon was thrown up around the site following fears parts of the cliff-face could be unstable.
Fife Council said the decision to close was taken in the interest of public safety, with officials insisting the move is only temporary and that a “long-term solution” is being sought.
Cliff-top erosion has become increasingly severe in recent months and heavy rain was blamed for the latest landslide at the beauty spot.
Fife Council is continuing to monitor the site. It is less than two years since the last closure of the Castle Sands.
In August 2008 a significant slide of grass and soil caused the beach at Castle Sands to be fenced off. It reopened a short time later.