The A379 between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge in south Devon took a big hit at Slapton Sands during the winter storms. We’d wondered why the road was closed, and thought it was because a lot of sand and gravel had been thrown on to it. It was only as we walked past the barriers and continued along the road that we saw why.

The road was gone.

Slapton Sands has a large, attractive beach. It is backed, across the road from the shore, by Slapton Ley, an area of inland lakes with a nature reserve. The sands themselves have got some history, as the beach was used as a training ground for the D-Day invasion of France in 1944. Locals were relocated as the top secret preparations for D-Day were made and trial manoeuvres were carried out.

It was quite a shock to see the road so damaged. Will it be…