A west Dorset community is to receive a share of £3 million to help protect itself from the sea - and more details of the work to be done has been revealed.

Funding for Charmouth - which has a coastline famous for its fossils - will be used for projects including protecting the heritage coast centre and redesigning some beach access.

Dorset Council will receive a total £3 million to tackle coastal erosion with funds split between work in Charmouth and Swanage.

One of the reasons Charmouth was selected was due to it being most at risk of costal erosion over the next 20 years.

The funding is part of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency’s joint £36 million Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme (CTAP).

A spokesperson for Dorset Council, said: “Now that we have been allocated funding via the CTAP scheme, the next stage is to put together a business case with specific aims, objectives and actions that help communities adapt to our changing coastline.

“The Charmouth proposals may include improvements to the resilience of the heritage centre to reduce potential damage from coastal flooding, replacing, or redesigning beach access and considering how cliff-top and other properties may adapt in the future to the eroding coastline.

“The outline business case is set to be completed by October 2024, with the agreed measures put into place by March 2027.”

The cliffs to the east of the village have seen dangerous rock falls or cliff collapses with mudslides and landslides a common theme in the area.

Data provided by Climate Central, which is based on peer-reviewed science journals, has also revealed that parts of Charmouth – including the heritage coast centre – could be at risk of being underwater by 2030.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, Travel and Environment, said: “Looking after our natural environment and tackling the impacts of climate change are key priorities for Dorset Council, so I’m pleased we’ve been able to secure this support from the CTAP programme.

“Many of our beautiful coastal towns and villages in Dorset are vulnerable to flooding and coastal erosion and it is vital that we prepare for the challenges presented by extreme weather.

“These funds will help us work with partners and local communities to deliver ambitious projects that increase resilience and help residents and businesses get ready for the future.”