In 1831 construction began on Belle Tout lighthouse on the next headland west from Beachy Head. It became operational in 1834. Because mist and low clouds could hide the light of Belle Tout, another lighthouse was built in the sea below Beachy Head. It was 43 m in height and became operational in October 1902. For more than 80 years, the red-and-white striped tower was manned by three lighthouse keepers. Their job was to maintain the light, which rotates two white flashes every 20 seconds and is visible 26 miles (42 km) out to sea. Trinity House announced in June 2010 that in late September 2010, the light is to be reduced to 8 nautical miles (15 km) and the fog signal discontinued. The lighthouse was fully automated in 1983 and the keepers withdrawn.