Major repair work costing at least £200,000 has been launched on the Shoebury Garrison sea wall to protect hundreds of homes from flooding.

Gladedale Homes called in contractors to repair a rapidly expanding hole in the seawall, at the far end Gunners Park, last week.

The firm's senior technical director James McCrae confirmed yesterday the scheme was half complete and the final cost would be around £200,000.

Essex Flood Forum campaigners claimed victory, as Gladedale started work two days after they invited the firm's managing director, Ross Brodie, to view the dislodged concrete blocks.

Flood Forum chairman, Brian Efde, 68, of High Street, Great Wakering, said: "The wall could have gone that evening.

"Most of Shoebury, Great Wakering and a lot of Thorpe Bay would have been under water if there had been a storm."

The work promise follows months of dispute between the Flood Forum and Southend Council, over whether the wall is in urgent need of repair.

Southend Council is responsible for the upkeep of the seawall, in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence.

Gladedale Homes took over maintenance, as part of a deal which has allowed it to build or redevelop 193 homes on the Shoebury Garrison site.

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