A hole has appeared in a section of the promenade in Barmouth this morning (Thursday) after a night of strong winds and high tide.

The damage was discovered this morning by several residents in the town. The damage is to the north end of the promenade.

David Owen, who lives on the promenade near to where the hole has appeared, told Cambrian News of how he came across the damage.

"We noticed a small opening in the concrete a few months ago where water was pouring into, it seems with the recent high water the earth and rubble it was built on has washed away leaving a 3 metre deep cavity that extends for meters in every direction.

"We were extremely concerned about our home being flooded as the water was washing over the track into our property."

One resident came across the damage whilst walking her dog. She told Cambrian News that the promenade has been in need of repair for a while.

She said: "The prom has collapsed where you walk over it. It has needed repairing for some time now. It should already have been repaired."

Councillor Rob Triggs told Cambrian News that structural damage has not been properly addressed for some years.

He said: "The damage from Ciara was pretty much just to the stone wall which gets washed away most years.

"However there has been structural damage to the wall and walkway for years now and every big tide more of it gets washed away, it’s been undermined for years, two years ago the Slipway at the North End collapsed because it was hollow underneath, most of the walkway is the same at north end."

The damage was reported to Gwynedd Council by one of the residents in the town. They have been asked for a comment.