8 September 2012 Last updated at 05:55 ET

Deal sea defence work due to start

Work on a £10m sea defence project that will reduce the risk of flooding to more than 1,500 homes and businesses in Kent will get under way this month.

A new 650ft (200m) rock barrier will be created north of Sandown Castle as part of the scheme for Deal.

A wave wall spanning a quarter of a mile (410m) from south of Stanley Road to King Street will also be built.

The Environment Agency said it was designed to reduce wave energy and direct the waves back into the sea.

Shingle pipeline

The rock will arrive at the castle by barge from Norway on 12 September, while shingle to bolster the beach against tides will be delivered via a pipeline from an offshore dredger.

The shingle will be moved into place from mid September, subject to weather conditions, over three weeks.

The project is expected to be completed by Christmas.

The Environment Agency said it would also protect the Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site, the Sandwich Bay Special Area of Conservation, and the railway line between Ramsgate and Dover in addition to historic monuments and listed buildings in North Deal.

Charlie Elphicke, Conservative MP for Dover and Deal, said: "This is a big project that will make a big difference to Deal.

"It will make Deal safer for years to come, but also change the look of the seafront."

An exhibition about the scheme is being held at the Royal Hotel in Deal from Monday, while more details can be found on the Environment Agency website.