People may be “seriously hurt” at Borth beach, it has been warned, after shingle banks rose to “cliff edge” levels following the building of new sea defences.

Resident Christopher Denny told the Cambrian News the village’s popular beach may now turn tourists away if work is not undertaken by Ceredigion council to reprofile the beach.

Mr Denny said that in its current state the “risk of injury is significant”.

Ceredigion council said, however, that they do not believe there is “any increased risk” at the beach.

Mr Denny said: “Since new sea defences were installed in 2011 and 2015 the shingle bank above the sand, which was formerly narrow and gently sloping has, over successive winters built up to such an extent that the sand below is all but inaccessible,” Mr Denny said.

“Along almost its entire length there are near vertical cliffs of huge pebbles which are dangerous to descend and almost impossible for most people to climb up.

“The risk of injury is significant.

“As villagers we are collectively concerned that holidaymakers may well be injured attempting to walk on the shingle and that many will be deterred from coming as the village’s main attraction is no longer available.

“Local businesses are utterly dependent on the holiday trade."

A Ceredigion council spokesperson told the Cambrian News: “Officers have inspected the beach and have concluded that there is not currently any increased risk due to the profile of the shingle along the beach.

“The profile of the shingle will of course change with each tide cycle and the authority will therefore continue with its monitoring programme of this and other beaches within the county.

"Residents and the wider public should always take care when accessing coastal locations due to the constantly changing nature of beaches.”

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