A former hotel perched perilously on the top of a cliff that is crumbling beneath it, is being taken apart brick-by-brick before it too falls onto the beach below.

The old Birling Gap Hotel being demolished is in the Seven Sisters National Park, near Eastbourne.

Built in 1878, the Victorian hotel once had a sun lounge, which has already been lost to the sea.

Until recently it was also a National Trust Cafe, adjoining a visitor centre.

The National Trust hope to build a new visitor centre inland.

The hotel once attracted wealthy motorists and had its own golf course.

Birling Gap is a popular spot for visitors to see the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs as it is the only beach access for miles

A reported 350,000 visitors a year visit the area, making it one of the most popular National Trust locations in the UK.

The old Birling Gap Hotel is demolished as it its too close to the cliff and the sea below in the Seven Sisters National Park, near Eastbourne. Built in 1878 the Victorian Hotel, once had a sun lounge (already lost to the sea) and until recently was a National Trust Cafe adjoining the visitor centre. Demolition will remove the building and the NT hope ot build a new visitor centre inland as the remaining buildings will soon be in danger from erosion. The hotel once attracted wealthy motorists and had its own golf course behind the Hotel. Birling Gap, East Sussex, UK. People visit Birling Gap from all over the world with it being the only beach access for miles in order ot see the Seven sisters chalk cliffs. The tourist site which has more than 350,000 visitors a year is famous for its white chalk cliffs close to Beachy Head, the infamous suicide spot, high above the sea. Sea erosion of the chalk cliffs means the cottages have also sucumbed to the sea and erosion of the coastline.

Birling Gap is the second favourite NT location in the UK after Chartwell (Winston Churchill's family home)