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Cullercoats coastal storm damage prompts danger warning

BBC Waves crashingBBC
Residents say waves on Sunday were the biggest they had ever seen in the area

There are concerns people could be swept into the sea after dozens of coastal barriers were brought down in recent storms.

North Tyneside Council is still waiting for timescales for railing repairs along Browns Bay in Cullercoats.

A number of barriers were knocked down during Storm Babet.

The council are warning people to "think twice before heading down to the coast", with weather alerts in place on Thursday and Friday.

Browns Bay is located between Whitley Bay and Cullercoats and is an area mainly used by dog walkers.

Temporary barriers had been put in place following Storm Babet earlier this month. However, disruptive weather at the weekend, a high spring tide and large waves have brought down even more railings.

Temporary barriers in flood water
Temporary barriers put up by the council after Storm Babet were swept away at the weekend

Kimberley Pye, Head of Environment and Safer Neighbourhoods at North Tyneside Council, said: "Our teams are on hand tidying up and clearing the area, assessing the repairs and making it as safe as they possibly can.

"If people are in the area, we're asking them to be extra cautious."

Fallen railing
The railings appear to have rusted and become damaged over time

A flood alert has been issued by the Environment Agency along much of the North East coast amid heavy rainfall last week and current high tides.

The agency is also advising the public to keep away from coastal paths, piers and promenades.

Local flooding from rivers and surface water is possible on Wednesday, Thursday and into Friday across parts of the north of England due to heavy rain from Storm Ciarán.

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