Breakwater plan to stop flooding

The breakwater would extend along a section of the beach

A massive multi-million pound breakwater could be built at Weston-super-Mare to cut the risk of high tides flooding the town.

The concrete structure would stretch hundreds of metres, from Knightstone Island towards the Grand Pier.

North Somerset Council is considering a number of proposals to improve the resort's sea defences.

Other ideas include increasing the height of the existing sea wall and installing wooden groynes on the beach.

Council spokeswoman Rachel Lewis said: "On a high tide, and when there are strong winds, parts of the wall have been damaged and breached.

"We have a particular problem at Weston because the promenade is higher than the road behind it, so once a wave crashes over onto the road there is nowhere for the water to go.

"There is a potential for very serious flooding."