Plans to deal with flooding along the Steart Peninsula in Somerset are to be discussed by local people and the Environment Agency.

There are fears that plans to protect the vulnerable stretch of coastline between the River Parrett and the Severn Estuary will mean the loss of homes and farmland.

The 11km stretch near the Bridgwater coast constantly floods because the sea defences - including earth banks and shingle ridges which can only provide limited protection against rising sea levels - are deteriorating.

More than 50 properties are at risk from flooding that has caused major disruption in the past.

Current defences are old and deteriorating

A meeting to discuss the problem is to take place on Wednesday night.

The Environment Agency says it is looking for a long term solution and believes one option might be to move the defences back and let the sea reclaim the land.

"Close consultation with the local residents is going to be the key to the success of any future strategy for the Steart Peninsula," said Richard Symonds for the Environment Agency.

"We hope as many people as possible take this opportunity to find out more about the options for the area."

Local people are being invited to Cannington College to say what flood prevention measures they would like to see along the coastline.

In 1981 more than 660 hectares of land was flooded resulting in considerable damage to properties and the loss of a large number of farm animals.