SOUTH Hams Council is spending tens of thousands of pounds on its storm-damaged coastline.

A total of £120,000 is being earmarked to repairs to a vital culvert at Salcombe's storm hit North Sands. South West Water is paying £20,000, with Devon County Council finding another £50,000 and South Hams Council being asked for the other £50,000.

Another £45,000 will be spent on continuing to protect Beesands village green, where where the huge storms have weakened a 400m-long 'rock revetment' and seriously eroded the shoreline.

A report on both storm-hit sections of the coast was due to go before yesterday executive where details of the finances were due to be approved.

At North Sands, the culvert has been so badly damaged that both the Winking Prawn cafe and a South West Water pumping station are under threat from flooding.

The scheme involves replacing part of the 80m culverted watercourse under the North Sands car park into an open stream which will cut maintenance costs.

At Beesands the report revealed: 'The storms weakened the 400m rock revetment, washed a significant proportion of the rock boulders down the beach and eroded the shoreline back towards the road in several locations.'

The report also warned: 'The wave action had also uncovered old dilapidated gabions. The wire structure from these gabions presents a real danger to the public beach.'

The council will be able to claim back the cost of the work at Beesands through a Department for Communities and Local Government emergency scheme.