Lincolnshire coastal sand-shifters start work
A £6m project to move sand on to Lincolnshire's beaches to help prevent flooding and coastal erosion is set to start.
The "beach nourishment" campaign sees more than 141,000 tonnes of sand pumped from off-shore sites onto 20km (12.4 miles) of beach.
The scheme, carried out by the Environment Agency, protects 30,000 properties from the risk of flooding.
Work is due to start at the end of May or beginning of June.
The sand is moved using a specialised dredger.
Mike Dugher, Environment Agency area coastal manager, said: "Increasing the level of the beach reduces the risk of waves reaching the main defences and going over sea walls.
"If the defences along the beach failed, there could be extensive damage to property and disruption to local communities."
The scheme first started in 1994 and covers beaches from Mablethorpe to Skegness.