Beach open again

The 18 million project started in 2003 and the final stage of the work on the Lancing sea front has now been finished and the beach is now fully open for the summer.

Flood risk manager Andrew Gilham said: "We're delighted that the work is complete and residents and businesses in the area now have improved protection from coastal flooding.

"This was a major scheme and whilst we did all we could to minimize disturbance and restrictions to residents and beach users, works of this scale are likely to cause some disruption to the public.

"We would like to thank everyone for their continued patience throughout the construction of the scheme.

"We worked hard to ensure that the flood defence scheme was finished earlier than planned and it's great to see the beach now fully open for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer and with improved protection from flooding."

The work has involved building 33 rock groynes along the coast, using 150,000 tonnes of rock from Norway and France, and bringing in 300,000 cubic metres of shingle onto the sea-bed from the Isle of Wight.

The scheme has improved flood defences for 1,340 homes and businesses from East Worthing, Lancing and Shoreham.