Contractors who were brought in to work on a £680,000 sea defence scheme have completed 75 per cent of the improvements.

Skinningrove was badly hit by flooding in July and November 2000 when high tides coincided with heavy rainfall to overwhelm the beck.

Councillor Eric Empson, Redcar and Cleveland Council's cabinet member for strategic planning, development and infrastructure is full of praise for the work he has seen.

He said: "Having had a visit to the site, along with both borough and parish councillors, we were all impressed with the amount of work being done and the spirit of co-operation which we found existing between the contractors and the local people that was very evident.

"We are very pleased with the progress and look forward to a successful conclusion. This is another piece of essential work to protect the village from the elements, increasing the level of protection from coastal flooding to 'one in 100 year' storm events."

Construction contractors, Gateshead-based Volker Stevin Limited started the nine weeks of work last month, and expects to finish ahead of schedule next month.

An early warning system, protective walls and floodgates at Stone Row bridge have prevented further flooding since 2000. Rocks had been installed to prevent waves crashing on to Marine Terrace, but they were damaged with the force of the water.

Volker Stevin has already carried out the excavation and replacement of 3,300 tonnes of storm-damaged rock armouring - and a further 6,636 tonnes of rock armour is being imported.

The work, which is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has also involved removing 6,000 cubic metres of sand and gravel to widen the beck and open up the channel under the third span of the Beach Road bridge.

To reduce costs and minimise the effects on the environment, 2,000 cubic metres of sand and gravel is being reused to improve the fishing boat park and another 350 cubic metres is going to a landscape project.

A new slipway for fishing boats has also been incorporated into the scheme