FAMOUS faces from the world of film and television have shared their joy after plans to protect a popular beauty spot were approved.

Coastguard cottages have stood on Cuckmere Haven’s cliffs near the Seven Sisters for generations.

The famous stretch of coastline, known the world over after featuring in countless feature films, music videos and TV programmes, has been at the centre of a campaign aimed at protecting it from the elements.

But now the clifftop hamlet is set to be saved after an ambitious plan to build new sea defences was approved.

Dame Judi, who filmed Blithe Spirit at Cuckmere Haven last year, said: “It is the one place I know that if you were to sum up the essence of our country, I would have no doubt in recommending it to other people. At all costs it must be preserved.”

A spokesman for Cuckmere Haven SOS said they were “very pleased” with the decision.

He said: “We look forward to working with the South Downs National Park and others on safeguarding this iconic landscape for the future."

The stunning view featured in dozens of movies including last year’s wartime romance Summerland, starring Gemma Arterton.

Jessica Swale, director of Summerland, said: “On behalf of the British creative Industry, film makers and artists on location, I would like to impress upon you the significance and benefit of preserving this site as a place of artistic importance too.

“A landscape now beloved by film fans. A landscape which has already captured the imagination of thousands of viewers and tempted many to make the pilgrimage to this beautiful place to see it for themselves.

“We would all be devastated if it couldn't be maintained.”

In 2015, Sir Ian McKellen filmed scenes for his 2015 movie Mr Holmes at the spot and singer Cheryl Cole filmed on the beach and cottages for her video for her 2010 single The Flood.

The five cottages, now converted into three homes, were built around 1820 for coastguards employed in the battle against smugglers who targeted the coastline during the Napoleonic wars.

In 2011, a new policy of managed coastal retreat was introduced by the Government which meant the Environment Agency no longer had responsibility for shoring up sea defences on Britain’s coastline.

The Cuckmere Haven Save Our Shores group has been campaigning for permission for new sea defences to be built which could last for 85 years.

Plans have now been approved by the South Downs National Park’s Authority’s planning committee.