A huge dredger has been pictured off the Sussex coast amid work beginning to extend a beach to help reduce flood risk.
The dredger belongs to global marine contractor Van Oord, which began work to extend a section of Hove beach on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council on August 3.
The major project will see the section of beach between the King Alfred Leisure Centre and Second Avenue extended by around 25 metres out to sea.
Thousands of tonnes of shingle are being pumped by the dredger through a 700 metre pipe to fill a new groyne field.
The project forms part of the Brighton Marina to River Adur Coastal Defence Scheme and aims to reduce flood risk.
It is hoped that the new groyne field will ensure homes and businesses are better protected from the effects of climate change, rising sea levels and storms.
The city council has also released video footage of the project in action, showing the shingle, which is dredged from the English Channel, being pumped through the pipe.
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The section of the beach will remain closed while the work is carried out.
Work to construct the new timber groyne field has already been taking place since the start of the year.
The groynes will become largely buried beneath the replenished beach once the work is completed, with only the upper sections remaining visible.
Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and city infrastructure, said: “The completed groyne field is going to ensure the homes and businesses here are better protected from climate change, rising sea levels and storms.
“We’ve seen for many years the impact storms can have, with tonnes of shingle washing up onto the promenade.
"This will help massively to reduce that and keep the prom accessible for everyone.”
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