VILLAGERS are fearing for the future of their homes after Storm Ciara tore through vital flood defences.

Gales ripped a gaping hole through Climping beach near Littlehampton and damaged sea walls beyond repair as seawater surged 300 metres inland earlier this week.

Ferry Road, a vital link between Climping village and Littlehampton, flooded under the pressure of the high tide.

And with Storm Dennis set to hit Sussex today, Climping village residents fear another storm could cut them off again.

“The residents are up in arms,” Adur district councillor Ian Buckland said.

“They’re really worried about the future of Climping.

“There’s a high elderly population in Climping Park. How will doctors be able to get to them if the road is flooded?

“For years we’ve been warning the Environment Agency this was going to happen. Nobody has listened.”

The Environment Agency has said the destroyed flood defences are “beyond economic repair” and could not justify spending money on work.

But Cllr Buckland believes the agency should apply for emergency funding if it wants to ensure the future of Climping.

And Arun District Council leader James Walsh believes the Environment Agency was not prepared for such a storm.

“They expected floods like this to happen some time in the next ten years,” he said.

“So they weren’t prepared for this.

“It is our duty to represent residents and of course I think the defences should be repaired.

“Because of the gap in the shingle the village is now open to high spring tides and storm surges.”

And with the A259 only a metre above at-risk fields, Cllr Walsh feared the road could be closed if a serious storm hits.

“That’s a real disaster waiting to happen,” he said.

“If that happens, the only way to get into Littlehampton will be via the A27, which is congested at the best of times.”

An Environment Agency spokesman said it was possible similar flooding could occur this weekend.

But it maintained it would be unlikely to be able to justify using Government money to rebuild groynes.

“The Flood Risk Strategy recommended that we should try to maintain these defences for as long as we can,” he said.

“At some point in the future the costs of maintaining the beach would exceed what we can justify spending under Government rules.

“The strategy identifies the possibility that at any point a severe storm would breach the defences or cause damage that is beyond economic repair.

“Storm Dennis is forecast to bring significant rainfall which will add to the water levels in the ditches and floodplain.”