CEREDIGION County Council has come under fire after Storm Imogen caused flooding in Borth on Monday as violent seas breached new £39m sea defences.

Residents were told the sea defences, completed in 2011, could withstand a one in 100 year storm.

One resident has accused Ceredigion council of “closing the stable door once the horse has bolted” for apparently refusing to distribute sandbags in the village until after water had already flowed into gardens and homes.

“I have had water in my house this morning,” said James Davies.

“What annoys me is the council was refusing to provide sandbags and stormboards between houses because they said we wouldn’t need them­.

“They claimed the sea defences would protect from everything up to a one in a hundred year storm.

“Borth has been flooded three times in about two years, therefore by the council’s own criteria, the sea defences have failed to achieve the claimed protection.”

After no sign of sandbags being provided by the council first thing on Monday, Mr Davies said some did arrive by late morning­.

Mr Davies also said a “cement” has formed on part of the beach where a causeway was established during the construction of sea defences.

He said: “The sea defences require a loose shingle bank to work properly but the shingle bank was packed with waste sand, peat and clay from the construction.

“This means the waves now ride up over the shingle bank instead of dissipating their energy into the shingle.”

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops now or online by clicking the Digital Editions tab at the top of the page