A battle to save clifftop homes from crumbling into the sea has been halted while politicians wait to hear if the Government will foot the bill.

Rother District Council is considering a £5 million project to slow the erosion of cliffs at Fairlight, near Hastings. It has already spent £170,000 drawing up plans for the project.

Five houses in the clifftop village have been swept away since 1999.

At a meeting in Bexhill on Tuesday, councillors decided to wait before spending another £89,000 putting together the plans, as they have not yet been told how much money the Government would pay towards the project.

Brian Kentfield, the councillor in charge of environmental policies, said: "We want to know when they are going to come through with a real commitment."

He said the council could not spend more money without knowing how much would come from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Nick Carter, 84, has lived in a mobile home in Rockmead Road since his house fell into the sea in 2003.

He said: "The council is calling the Government's bluff. I am with my neighbours but I think it is a forlorn hope."