Work begins on extra sea defences at beauty spot

It is estimated the project at Walton-on-the-Naze will cost up to £280,000

Work to install extra sea defences at a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the north-east Essex coastline has got under way.

The project is planned to protect the Hamford Water nature reserve at The Naze, Walton-on-the-Naze.

It involves repairing and extending a tamarisk clay sea wall to provide further coverage, as well as the installation of an access ramp.

The scheme would be completed by early October, Tendring District Council said.

About 2m (about 6.5ft) of Walton-on-the-Naze's cliffs are being lost to the sea every year due to the ferocity of the waves.

Councillor Adrian Smith said the north-east Essex coastline was a "really special place"

The work would protect Cormorant Creek from being "overwhelmed by the sea and wiping out significant natural habitat", the council said.

The authority fears homes and businesses near Hamford Water would be at risk without intervention.

Adrian Smith, the council's portfolio holder for the environment, said he was pleased to see the progress made to date.

"The Naze, Hamford Water and the whole of Walton Backwaters are a really special place," he said.

In 2011, a £1.2m project to install a 110m (about 360ft) Crag Walk was completed to help protect The Naze.

Using more than 16,000 tonnes of granite, it protected the stretch of cliffs in line with the Naze Tower, which at the time was 50m (about 165ft) from the cliff edge.

Michelle Nye-Browne, who owns the tower, previously told the BBC that building a similar sea defence today would cost £2.4m.