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A section of a beach has been cordoned off after a huge hole opened up and shot snails into the sky.

The coastguard were called to near Orcombe Point on Exmouth Beach in Devon at 12.47pm yesterday after the crater began to appear.

Officers attended the scene and discovered a hole measuring 15ft wide and 15ft deep had emerged and was filling with water.

Fresh holes began to appear around the original cavity, while the surrounding sand was also soft.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) cordoned off the area which may remain closed over the weekend.

(Image: Getty)

A council spokeswoman said the hole currently measured about 6ft and could have been due to "a natural phenomena".

"Council engineers are currently on site investigating and report that the sand around the hole is soft underfoot," the spokeswoman said.

"They will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend and between tides.

"The beach is very popular with dog walkers and bathers who are being advised to avoid the cordoned off area.

"Heavy rain yesterday may be the cause of the hole - a natural phenomena - to have opened up.

"The council was alerted to the hole by Exmouth Coastguards yesterday lunchtime and council staff cordoned off the area before the tide came in and covered the area."

In a post on Facebook, Exmouth Coastguard said it was dispatched to deal with the hole at 12.47pm yesterday by the National Maritime Operations Centre.

(Image: PA)

"On arrival a hole approx 15' x 15' had appeared and was filled with water," the post said.

"The surrounding sand was also soft, with fresh holes appearing nearby.

"A cordon was in place and safety advice was given to beach users.

"On arrival of a civil engineer from EDDC the decision was made to enlarge the cordon as there was a concern that the hole may have been indicative a much larger chamber underneath.

"An incoming tide will be flooding the hole later this evening allowing EDDC time to consider how to deal with the hole.

"As this was now a matter for the local authority HM Coastguard returned to station."

Kite surf instructor James Dart told the BBC he had witnessed the hole appearing in the sand.

"I looked over and there were big plumes of water coming out of the beach, it was all bubbling up much like a geyser, it was probably going about a foot above the beach - it was quite tremendous sight," he said.

"I got closer and saw plant matter coming up, a few snails coming out too.

"It was something to spice things up in the rain."