Whitby church ‘not under threat’ (From Gazette & Herald)

St Mary’s Church in Whitby ‘not under threat’

9:20am Friday 11th January 2013 in News

A view of St Mary’s in Whitby, where landslips have dislodged banks of earth containing human remains from graves

A church overlooking an historic North Yorkshire harbour is not under threat despite parts of its graveyard continuing to disappear down the surrounding cliffs, officials have said.

A series of landslips over the last two months have dislodged banks of earth containing human remains from graves at St Mary’s in Whitby – a church with connections to the Dracula story.

The debris has been tumbling down behind houses and businesses on the east side of the picture-postcard town.

Engineering work is under way to stabilise the cliff. Landslides have also struck further down the coast in Scarborough and Filey.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant following the incidents, which have been reported in Khyber Pass and The Cragg in Whitby, behind the Clock Café in Scarborough’s South Bay, and Church Ravine in Filey. Some footpaths have been closed as a precaution.

Work to dismantle five properties in Aelfleda Terrace, Whitby, which were affected by a landslip in December, was completed before Christmas.