About 12,000 tonnes of shingle is to be used to protect coast road from storm damage.

The extra defences at Slapton Sands in south Devon will run next to the A379 road.

The road was badly damaged in storms in January 2001 and was eventually rebuilt 25 metres inland to protect it from rough seas.

About 3,000 tonnes of boulders were put alongside the damaged road to help protect it.

They were later removed because of fears they were causing damage to the Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The route is a vital link between Kingsbridge and Dartmouth and many local businesses said they suffered when the road was closed.

The �20,000 scheme has been approved by the Slapton Line Partnership, which includes English Nature, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Whitley Wildlife Trust, which owns the land.