A PROJECT to protect a section of coast from the ravages of the North Sea has moved into a new phase through the arrival of huge concrete blocks.

The pre-cast blocks, known as accropodes, are designed to interlock and absorb the heavy impact of the seas.

Up to 4,000 are being used to protect the East Pier and Castle Headland, in Scarborough, the areas that take the heaviest battering from the sea.

Rock "armour" will then be placed on top of them to improve their appearance.

Each accropode weighs about 15 tonnes.

Pre-cast in Sunderland, they are now being brought to Scarborough in bargeloads of 40 at a time.

As the £26m project continues even larger accropodes will be used, weighing up to 22 tonnes