A team of Army Engineers from Kinloss have been deployed to aid under-pressure sea defences hit hard by recent storms on the south coast of England.
Sappers from 29 Engineers Regiment at Kinloss Barracks were already in the area undertaking military training work when they were asked by the Environmental Agency to help in shoring up the defences at Chesil Beach in Dorset.
The area has been devastated by storms in recent weeks with flooding throughout the region and severe damage caused to rail and road links as well as homes.
Chesil Beach, a world heritage site, connects the Isle of Portland with the mainland. Following the storms it has been estimated that around 40,000 tonnes of pebbles has moved on the beach since Christmas.
The group of 35 Sappers from Moray have been deployed with five bulldozers and three mechanical diggers to help push the sea defences back into position – work that is somewhat different from their normal duties of building and repairing airfield runways for the Royal Air Force.
Lieutenant Greg Vinall-Hough said: “The call came on Friday and the equipment was delivered on Saturday – we then began work on Sunday.
“The beach has taken a real battering and it is still very windy, the problems is that all it takes is another night and a lot of the work can be washed away again.”