WORK is nearing completion on the final phase of a £4.3m project to protect Seaton Carew from the sea.

The sea defences have been upgraded along a 700-metre stretch of the coastline, from the Station Lane access ramp to the coach park.

The construction, which has taken a total of 14 months and had to be carried out in two separate phases, involved excavating the beach to a depth of five metres and replacing it with a stone foundation which is buried under the sand.

Once the foundation had been allowed to settle, a new higher concrete sea wall was built to replace the existing sea wall.

The existing access ramp onto the beach opposite the entrance to Station Lane has been completely redesigned.

The promenade area has been widened and extended so that it now continues as far as the coach park.

The work has cost a total of £4.3m, of which £3.5m has been funded by the Environment Agency and the remainder has come from Hartlepool Borough Council and Northumbrian Water.

Coun Peter Jackson, chairman of the council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee, said: “The Seaton sea defences have been designed to withstand the most severe storms and to last for well over 100 years.”