'It could prevent my house falling into the sea'

Part of Paul Griew's garden, along with his summerhouse, collapsed into the sea about six years ago

A proposed coastal defence scheme for Sidmouth has been described as a “huge relief” by a man whose garden is disappearing into the sea at a rate of almost 1m (3.3ft) a year.

Paul Griew said the rate of erosion at his clifftop property had sped up “ten times [the amount]” since he bought it almost 30 years ago.

In 2017, a large section of garden fell away, along with his summerhouse, which crashed over the cliff edge.

A £20m project is now being developed to protect properties from the risks of sea flooding and cliff erosion.

It is thought the coastal defence scheme will help protect more than 110 residential and 70 commercial properties

The Sidmouth and East Beach coastal defence scheme was "absolutely necessary", said Mr Griew.

The 76-year-old added that, alongside protecting the properties on Cliff Road from erosion, much of the scheme was focused protecting the town from sea flooding.

East Devon District Council Geoff Jung said Sidmouth was "really vulnerable" to climate change and sea level rise

"The iconic seafront of Sidmouth is world-renowned. We have to protect it," said East Devon District Counci member Geoff Jung.

Mr Jung added the town was also "really vulnerable" to flooding, climate change and sea level rises.

Mr Jung said all the planned changes would be done in a sympathetic manner, keeping the town's historic architectural and natural beauty in mind.

The scheme will include work at East beach that should help protect the properties on Cliff Road, which are vulnerable to erosion

The project is currently being designed and could include one or more new offshore breakwaters and a new rock groyne at East Beach.

The main and East beaches would be "recharged" or increased in level, using similar material dredged from offshore, project leaders said.

The plans should protect more than 110 homes and about 70 businesses, they added.

The government has already allocated £16m towards the Sidmouth and East Beach coastal defence scheme.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) said it would provide a further £2.25m, with additional contributions from Devon County Council and other local bodies.

Project leaders said design consultants were developing plans, which would then go out to public consultation.

If approved, work could start in about two years' time.