East Yorkshire coastal communities urged to battle erosion

East Yorkshire is one of two counties which has "proportionally the highest number of properties at risk from coastal erosion", according to Defra

Communities on one of the fastest-eroding coastlines in Europe have been urged to get involved in plans to combat the problem.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has secured £15m of funding to tackle the effects of erosion.

A council spokesperson said each year East Yorkshire lost about 14ft (4.5m) of land to the sea.

Councillor Barbara Jefferson said the Changing Coasts East Riding project was an opportunity "everyone should join".

The council said it wanted to bring people together with a team of specialists to explore how to design and create communities which were "resilient to the impacts of coastal change".

Drop-in sessions had been organised in coastal villages during October and November where people could find out more about the project, it added.

A spokesperson said examples of the activities which could be funded included replacing and relocating community assets at risk from coastal erosion, designing small-scale housing schemes and investigating temporary uses for coastal land such as creating new habitats.

Within the last 16 years a road and back gardens in Skipsea, East Yorkshire, disappeared due to coastal erosion

The council said it wanted to talk to residents and businesses about their plans for the future.

A spokesperson said it was "vital" people shared their ideas.

Ms Jefferson, portfolio holder for heritage and coastal, said: "I would urge everyone to become involved with this as it affects us all and future generations to come.

"It is an exciting opportunity not to be missed."

The first drop-in events are due to take place at Skipsea Village Hall on Wednesday and Barmston Village Hall on Thursday 12 October from 14:00 BST to 19:00 BST.

The council said conditions attached to the project meant it could not fund the construction of new flood and coastal defences.

The money also could not be used for recovery work after an erosion event or as compensation to people who had lost their land, homes or businesses as a result of coastal erosion, the authority said.