The cliffs are part of a World Heritage site

Government adviser English Nature has criticised the scheme, but some Sidmouth residents, who are seeing their clifftop gardens disappear into the sea, take a different view.

The red sandstone cliffs east of Sidmouth are one of the town's most famous features and also form part of the East Devon and Dorset World Heritage Site.

But they are slipping into the sea at a rate of about two metres a year.

The people who live there should be aware they are living on top of a soft cliff and there are certain risks associated with it Amanda Newson, English Nature

Cliff Road resident Martin McInerney saw several metres of his garden disappear in one go during the rapid erosion of a couple of winters ago.

He believes the cliffs need protecting for the overall benefit of the town.

"If the current rates of erosion carry on, we will lose the cliff and lose Alma Bridge," said Mr McInerney.

"It is a vital route to and from town and a very important economic route for walkers."

East Devon District Council is proposing a rock revetment scheme to protect both the bridge and the cliff-top properties.

Less impact

The scale of the works proposed have attracted criticism from Devon County Council and also English Nature, which is calling for works that would have less impact.

"It would change an area of cliff immediately adjacent to Sidmouth," said Amanda Newson, of English Nature.

"The whole of that area of coast is unstable and prone to slipping to a greater or lesser extent.

"The people who live there should be aware they are living on top of a soft cliff effectively and there are certain risks associated with it."