The first in a series of consultation events was held last Friday as the Welsh Government plans ahead to protect the almost 250,000 properties along the coast of Wales at risk of flooding.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, launched the consultation on a new National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales last month.

A series of consultation events with residents to view the plans are being held, with the first held at the council offices in Aberystwyth on Friday afternoon.

The new strategy builds on the Welsh Government commitment to invest over £350 million in flood and coastal erosion risk management over the life of this Government.

It sets out proposals to manage the risks from flooding and coastal erosion over the next decade and considers how we can better understand and address risk in a more sustainable way.

The consultation document said that the plans would see the most at-risk areas along the coast receive the bulk of the funding.

Fairbourne is one of the most at-risk villages, with predictions that it will be lost to the sea over the next 50 years.

Millions of pounds have already been spent on defences for the village, but the strategy could see those defences built upon.

The consultation on the National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management will last for 12 weeks, ending on 16 September.

See this week’s north editions for the full story, in shops and online now