A LANDSLIDE has written off two cars in Purfleet.

Residents in Caspian Way ran out of their homes in alarm after a section of the cliffs beside their flats crumbled last night, burying cars in rubble.

A section of the chalkstone cliff also came down on Wednesday, residents believe it has been loosened by frequent rain and snow.

Mike Clark, who lives in the flats, is furious as his Peugeot 306 is one of the cars that has been written off.

He said: “It fell down just before nine o’clock last night and it sounded like there was an earthquake or something.

“I had been out there just before parking my car, I could have been seriously injured in hospital right now.”

The land the estate is on is leased by the Church Hollow Management Company. Its managing agents, Residential Management Group, came and inspected the cliffs after the first landslide on Wednesday.

RMG’s operational director, Clare Corbett, said the company commissioned a survey of the cliffs in November and there were no concerns then.

It is believed that the recent adverse weather conditions are what has caused the movement.

She said: “The police called us on Wednesday saying there had been a slipage from the cliff, and we were on site within two hours.

“Everyone is working hard to find a solution.”

Kiki Schoenburg, 35, says residents are still in shock.

She said: “When the rocks hit the ground it sounded like a massive wave breaking, it was really loud.

“One resident felt unable to stay at the property over night.”

Essex Police spokesman Donna Veasey said: “Police were contacted just before 5.40am on Wednesday with reports of a land movement in Caspian Way, Purfleet.

"A car park was sealed off by officers while enquiries were made to contact the owner of the land.

“Thurrock Council cordoned off a foot path from Tank Hill Lane to Botany Way. Officers left the scene at 1.40pm the same day.”