The BBC's West of England Correspondent Clinton Rogers: "The Golden Sands of Minehead are missing ... well, the golden sands"

Children trying to make the best of a seaside holiday in the Somerset resort of Minehead scrabble among the shingle and silt for any stray grains to build their meagre sandcastles.

Minehead's once famous golden beach has been washed away by a multi-million-pound coastal defence scheme which was supposed to protect it.

The 1995 storm broke sea defences

The riddle of the sands dates back to 1995 when fierce storms demolished the old sea defences and flooded the town.

Two years ago work began to raise the sea walls and erect four groynes. The Environment Agency spent nearly �13m rebuilding the defences.

But the huge boulders that line the coast to reduce the impact of the waves have affected the tide and washed away Minehead's precious asset. Where there was golden sands there is now just mud and rocks.

Local fury

It is not just visitors that are feeling the loss - Minehead relies on tourism which employs 60% of the workforce in west Somerset. Business people are furious.

About 300,000 tonnes of sand will be needed

"The main scheme was finished last summer and we've all waited with bated breath for the sand to arrive in bargefuls," said Chris Dyer of West Somerset Watchdogs group.

"Up to now it hasn't happened and we're just going to enter a new holiday season with a beach that's far from perfect."

Efforts are under way to bring back the precious golden grains. But it will take 300,000 tonnes of sand to restore Minehead's beach to its former glory at a cost �2.5m.

The Environment Agency said it may not have the funds to carry out the work before the start of the tourist season.

"I would love to be able to put the beach down this year," said David Pilkington of the Agency. "But as soon as we can put together the funding package then we can award the contract."