Vital work has started to shore up exposed coastline at Kingston and Ferring.

The Environment Agency is working with Arun District Council on repairing groynes and putting extra sand and shingle at several sites.

The council has started work at Kingston replacing one whole groyne, two half groynes and reprofiling a further groyne.

This will maintain defences on that part of the frontage.

Care will be taken during improvements to preserve the greensward, with contractors' vehicles accessing the work site area along the lower foreshore from the Rife (except for personal vehicles, which will access via the private roads but remain parked on the roads).

Work at Ferring is due to commence in late February, with minor reprofiling of six timber groynes, together with placement of 250 tonnes of rock armour at the top of the beach.

These works will reduce the possibility of water and shingle passing over the beach crest and on to the land beyond.

The work on the Ferring Rife frontage, which started in early January, involves extensive reprofiling of six timber groynes at either side of the outfall.

This will be followed in April and May by the placement of approximately 35,000 cubic metres of "dredged beach material", a mixture of sand and shingle that will reduce the possibility of sea water coming over the defences in storm conditions.

Councillor Richard Bower, Arun's Cabinet member for the environment, said: "These works will provide a higher standard of defence for the residents of Kingston and Ferring, giving them greater security and protection against the forces of nature.

"We are undertaking these works prior to the summer period to ensure the public and residents of Ferring and Kingston can use the beaches this summer."

The work is being undertaken through a partnership between the council and the Environment Agency.

The council said this week the work was being carried out on weekdays and, because of the need to fit in with the tides, usually between the hours of 5am and 8pm.