A Hastings resident forced to abandon his home due to the storms is in dispute with the borough council after it asked him to look at arranging to stabilise crumbling cliffs near his property.

A section of the cliff behind buildings in White Rock collapsed earlier this month, trapping a 96-year-old man inside a shop.

Hastings Borough Council has written to neighbouring resident Chris Paraskeva expressing concern about potentially more rockfalls at the back of his two-bed, Grade-II listed property which was badly damaged by the collapse.

In the letter, the council denied it was responsible for the cliff and asked him to urgently instruct engineers to assess its stability and, if necessary, commission remedial works.

The council letter said: "From discussions with colleagues and the emergency services we are now aware that this is not the first time sections of the cliff in this area have collapsed, and given the very long period of wet and stormy weather that we are experiencing, we are concerned that there may be more rock alls to the rear of your property.

"The cliff is not owned by the council and we believe it is the responsibility of the land and property owners backing onto the cliff.

"In the circumstances, you are strongly advised to urgently seek specialist advice from suitably qualified structural engineers on the stability of the cliff to the rear of your property, to assess whether or not you need to commission remedial works to the cliff to safeguard your property and people occupying it."

Mr Paraskeva said the council's request is at odds with Prime Minister David Cameron's assurances that help would be on hand for people affected by the storms.

And he disputed the local authority's claims that he has some responsibility for the cliff, insisting that Land Registry records show the rear boundary of his property ends at the cliff's base.

Antiques dealer Mr Paraskeva, 61, who is recovering from cancer treatment, said: "The council deny all responsibility for the cliff and they are saying it's mine.

"I would like them to help. They are not being at all sympathetic to people's problems round here. They are just saying, 'It's nothing to do with us'.

"Well, I believe it is, as do my neighbours either side." Mr Paraskeva is today waiting for insurance assessors to inspect the damage, but predicts he will not be covered for the rock fall.

A council spokesman said the authority had taken legal advice and been advised that the cliffs were not its responsibility, but that of the property owner in front of the cliffs.

He said: "This is not uncommon, and there are other examples where I know this is the case in Hastings.

"We acted immediately to provide those directly affected by the cliff fall, both property owners and tenants, with temporary accommodation until they could safely re-occupy them, and met with many of them soon after the cliff fall to explain the position, indeed I was at that meeting myself."