A public inquiry to decide the future of a row of homes perched on a cliff edge has hit council coffers hard.

The inquiry followed an appeal by the owners of Crangon Cottages at Birling Gap, Eastbourne, after Wealden Council refused planning permission for a sea wall.

Without the 185-metre wall at the foot of the cliffs, the row of six homes could be lost to the sea within 20 years.

A second application for a 30ft rock barrier was approved before Environment Secretary John Prescott called the case in.

After the high profile eight-day inquiry at the Deans Place Hotel, Alfriston, in July, Wealden District Council were left footing a bill for more than £36,000.

A decision on the cottages' future is still awaited, but the council hopes for a result before Christmas.

The bulk of the £36,000 was spent on lawyers and consultants. More than £3,000 went on hiring the function room and providing accommodation for the inquiry inspector.

Ian Kay, assistant district planning officer, said: "We only have a relatively small budget set aside for decisions and appeals, so it was inevitable such a big case would eat up so much of it.

"A case on this scale is a one-off for us and it's rare to have an application where we have different views on two separate plans. We will have to dip into council funds to recoup the money."