ROYAL Marines could be brought in to help out villagers in Calstock after the shocking landslip on Christmas night.

A huge hole has appeared in a narrow road, stranding several cars.

The landslip on Lower Kelly Road, above the River Tamar, happened after very wet weather.

Residents in up to 30 houses were cut off by the landslip.

Until the damage is repaired, which will include building a new retaining wall, they will not be able to drive their cars out.

A walkway created by Cornwall Council around the landslip allows them to walk to and from their homes.

A holidaymaker from London has had to travel home by train and leave his car marooned in the village.

Ian Craft, who lives near the landslip, said one possibility under consideration to help the residents was to use Royal Marine landing craft to extract the trapped cars.

In the meantime, the council is arranging for hire cars to be provided.

Residents have praised the council's response to the incident but the council says it will not be able to tell them how long it will be before the road is reinstated until it has completed an assessment of the situation, including the stability of homes lining the road.

A 20-metre section of the road was damaged following the collapse of the retaining wall. Highways staff have been carrying out regular inspections to ensure the road is not deteriorating further. The council says these inspections will continue until the road is repaired.

Cornwall councillors and officials met with residents this week to carry out an initial structural assessment of the area and to consider how to achieve the replacement of the wall and repair of the road.

A council spokesman said its priority at present is to ensure residents' safety, to make sure the surrounding area is structurally safe and to put a plan in place to restore access.

Villagers themselves held a meeting to work out how they could help each other.

Cornwall councillor Dorothy Kirk said: 'There's a great community spirit in Calstock. People support each other.'