Anger in Devon as community misses out on flood money

People living on the South Devon coast say they've been betrayed by an official decision to exclude them from coastal defence plans which could stop their homes crumbling into the sea.

Today the government confirmed that more than £15 million is to be spent on defences on the Somerset Levels.

But further south there's no money for the community of North Hallsands - although cash has been found for neighbouring villages including Torcross and Slapton.

North Hallsands has the sort of dramatic sea view many of us would love to live near but it's this water that's destroying this coastal hamlet and locals have been told that nothing will be done to stop it.

Last week residents were sent a letter from the Government Minister Oliver Letwin telling them nothing would be spent on flood defences here. They say it's insulting that while more than £2 billion is being found nationally for flood defences, their demand for around £10,000 is being rejected.

While sympathising with Hallsand residents, the local MP Sarah Wollastan told ITV News that improvements had to be balanced with financial demands elsewhere along the coast at places such as Beesands and Torcross where some homes are in immediate danger of flooding.

People in Hallsands say they won't give up but they do feel as though they now have two fights on their hands - one with the Government and another with the encroaching sea.