Alexis Akwagyiram BBC News

The prospect of losing homes and belongings to the sea is plaguing coastal communities around the UK.

Happisburgh residents fear losing their homes due to erosion

The planet's climate is expected to change during the coming years and decades, according to scientists.

But the problem is more immediate for many people living in coastal areas at the mercy of the sea.

Communities facing the greatest risks are those in the east and south coast of England.

For example, 26 houses in Happisburgh, a village in Norfolk, have been abandoned due to the erosion of the cliffs on which they were built.

And Aldeburgh, in Suffolk, could become an island if its crumbling sea defences are not repaired.

Erosion is of particular concern in several parts of Scotland including stretches of the Fife coast, Aberdeen and Kirkcaldy.

In April the Foresight Flood and Coastal Defence Project, which involved 60 experts in climate change, engineering and economics, called for increased spending on flood defences and better planning to avoid more homes being put at risk.

Storm surges

For many, the most distressing forecast in the government report outlined the increasing pace of coastal erosion set to accompany climate change.

Rising sea levels are expected to be accompanied by low-lying shores becoming increasingly vulnerable to storm surges.

The report estimated that, if spending continues at current levels, one out of every three existing coastal defences could be destroyed in coming years, putting large parts of the east coast of England at risk.

Responsibility for the defence of coastlines in the UK falls to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Environment Agency.

It was a slow, progressive death and the insurance company were bloody-minded about the situation Nick Carter Villagers living on the edge

The overall strategy for combating rising sea levels is drawn up by Defra, which spends an estimated �500m on coastal defences every year.

A Defra spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "The government has no legal obligation to spend money in this way.

"It chooses to do so because it is socially and economically sensible.

"However, the resources are finite. There are several communities around the country who feel they are in need, so we have to prioritise to spend the money effectively."

Defra operates a points system on which to prioritise the areas which are deemed to have the greatest need for funding.

It does so on the basis of the possible economic benefits to the area, the population of the community and the likely environmental impact of flooding.

The spokeswoman added: "We need to look ahead as sea levels are set to rise due to climate change.

We will continue to build and manage flood and coastal defences but we also need to change the way we manage flood risk to find more sustainable ways to protect people Environment Agency

"We need to prepare for this by providing cost-effective ways to defend communities."

After the decision to provide funding is taken by Defra, the Environment Agency is responsible for implementing the relevant defences.

An Environment Agency spokesman told BBC News Online: "The Environment Agency is working for now and the future.

"We will continue to build and manage flood and coastal defences but we also need to change the way we manage flood risk to find more sustainable ways to protect people."

Outlining other measures, he added: "We need to avoid building houses on flood plains and change land use to make the land more absorbent and change property design to be better able to withstand extreme flood events."

The Environment Agency, which is responsible for England and Wales, advises people with concerns about erosion to speak to the local authority who then seek funding for protection from Defra if there are widespread fears.