A £107,000 scheme to improve sea defences and reduce the risk of flooding will start next week.

The work between Rustington and East Preston, near Worthing, is expected to take 12 weeks.

Arun District Council has received financial aid from the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs and West Sussex County Council.

Work includes building a "splash wall" between Howards Way and the eastern end of Sea Road but openings will be left at several points to allow access to the beach.

Workmen will also be raising the height of some of the timber groynes and rocks will be placed against the sea wall for added protection from the waves.

The work at the Rustington end of the scheme will also include bringing in extra shingle but this has been delayed until the autumn to avoid major disruption to the holiday season.

Councillor Richard Bower, Arun Cabinet member for the environment, said: "This is a long overdue coastal defence project but now funding has been forthcoming from the Government we can at last start work and make residents in the Sea Road area feel more secure."

Meanwhile, work has started on a second Arun contract to rebuild a launching ramp leading into the sea at Gloucester Road, Bognor.

The council says the ramp has often been out of use because of problems with shingle and the £72,500 project will allow it to be used all year round for boats and jet skis.