Harbour hole filled and beach reshaped after storms

Work is being carried out at a seaside resort to reshape a beach and fill a car-sized hole beneath its iconic breakwater.

Front Beach in Lyme Regis has been fenced off while diggers level out sand and shingle moved in storms from Wednesday.

Along the southern arm of The Cobb bags of rocks put in place as a temporary fix in November at the bottom of the high sea wall are being replaced with concrete set to be pumped in.

Dorset Council said the beach was expected to reopen fully on 25 March and the work on The Cobb was due to finish by the end of Friday.

Dorset Council said the hollow it said was "about the size of a small car" in the Grade I listed stone wall was found where the Cobb forks and is exposed to strong waves during a routine inspection in spring 2025.

While the work is being carried out Cobb buildings, businesses and harbour activities will remain open. Access beyond the work area along the southern arm of The Cobb will be restricted.

The council said the work on the beach was being carried out earlier than usual this year because storms had eroded the beach.

It said: "We are hoping that the worst weather is now behind us and that we can finish the works before the tourist season begins in earnest at Easter."

It said following the week-long works some beach reprofiling may be needed on the resorts other shingle beaches.