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Parts of a beauty spot were shut off to allow cliff-slipping tests to take place.

A section of Belton Hills Nature Reserve in Leigh-on-Sea was closed while Southend-on-Sea City Council investigated the northern end of the cliffs.

The local authority's budget documents revealed funding of £500,000 had been set aside to "remedy ground movement and reduce the risk of cliff slips".

Lib Dem councillor for Leigh, Carole Mulroney, said: "We all know the cliffs are slipping all the way along and they keep a very watchful eye on it. I know there will be people who will say it’s a beautiful green area, but we can’t have the cliffs slipping down onto the road - so you’ve got to do these things as soon as you possibly can."

The council also announced an 18-month extension to road restrictions on Cliff Parade where badger setts have delayed stabilisation works.

Pavements have previously been closed in the area after inspections found "ongoing deterioration", the wrote.

Ms Mulroney added: “However much people go on about it, we cannot do anything because of the badgers.

"Until that problem is sorted out, we can’t do anything because the badger groups and the environmentalists will quite rightly say you can’t do anything to damage the badgers.

“We’re trying to do it the right way within all the rules.”

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