Dredging 'causing erosion' claim

Sand and gravel are lifted from the sea bed during dredging

Villagers in Norfolk say coastal erosion is being made worse by off-shore dredging.

They claim holes left in the sea bed from ships extracting gravel and sand are being refilled with sand from the shoreline of their local beaches.

But Mark Russell from the British Marine Aggregate Producers' Association said research disproved these claims.

Pat Gowen, from Friends of the Earth, says 96 bungalows have been lost at Winterton-on-Sea, including his own.

Mr Gowen told the BBC: "We're giving them (the government) the scientific evidence - all the research that is done all around the world, which is independent and not done by those representing the dredging companies.

"And we think, just like smoking, nuclear power and mobile phones, that eventually, we shall probably win and they will see that this dredging is having a serious impact on the coast and indeed upon fishing."

Mr Russell dismissed the claims, responding: "The scientific evidence demonstrates very clearly that modern marine aggregate dredging operations in UK waters do not contribute to coastal erosion.

"They're far too far offshore, generally 8km off the coastline and also in far too deep water - 20m plus. If there was any doubt this activity would simply not be permitted by government."