Litter strewn across Seaford Bay is being driven into the beach because the Environment Agency is not clearing it before shifting shingle, a town councillor claims. 

Volunteers from the Friends of Tidemills collected 13 sacks of rubbish in the aftermath of last month's St Jude storm. 

But during the group's annual general meeting concerns were raised over the Environment Agency's failure to clear further debris before its annual operation to shift shingle, which began last week.

Councillor Bob Brown, of Seaford Town Council, said: “These lorry movements are grinding the latest pollutant delivery into the beach itself where it will remain, shards of glass and plastic to cut unwary feet in the summers to come.

“Once upon a time Seaford Town Council held regular meetings with officers of the EA to discuss and often resolve issues like this. Now I hear that these meetings take place rarely, if ever. Why not?”

The Environment Agency said it moves shingle annually to reduce the risk of coastal flooding to low-lying parts of the town.

David Robinson, South Downs area flood and coastal risk operations manager, said “Shingle recycling at Seaford has been identified as the most cost-effective method for maintaining the beach for coastal protection and recreational purposes, whilst still allowing natural coastal processes to continue.”