Groyne field: series of groynes acting together to protect a section of beach.

UNESCO: L O S S A R Y

The North Sea flood of 1953, which killed 307 people, led to a further building of sea walls and groynes.

ECONOMIST: Letting the waves rule Britannia

Four of the options involve replenishing the beach and installing different combinations of groynes or, in one case, a rock revetment.

BBC: Clacton sea defence plan 'could cost ?27m'

"When I was a boy it used to be like this but two weeks ago the groynes were totally covered, " he said.

BBC: Lifeboat launch area washed away by tides and storms

Sand has been stripped from groynes blocking direct routes to the sea.

BBC: Lifeboat launch area washed away by tides and storms