Hopton villagers campaigning to save their homes from the North Sea have formed an action group to battle for money for defences - and plan to “go for the jugular”.

Hopton villagers campaigning to save their homes from the North Sea have formed an action group to battle for money for defences - and plan to “go for the jugular”.

Brian Hardisty, chairman of the new Hopton Coastal Action Group, said the nine-member committee wanted the government to maintain rather than abandon sea defences and had formed arguments to support its position.

He added that clifftop housing worth an estimated �5m plus two holiday villages were at stake, and said he was unconvinced by statis-tics predicting the rate of erosion which were already well out, concrete defences near Corton having failed within three years and not the predicted 15-20 years.

Mr Hardisty said the committee's first tasks were to:

Write to Great Yarmouth Borough Council managing direc-tor Richard Packham squarely laying the blame for beach depletion with the council and EastPort.

Ask to see a report from EastPort, concerning the impact of the Yarmouth outer harbour works on surrounding areas, that was rejected by the borough council because it was not in the correct format.

Mr Hardisty said the aim was “to go for the jugular” to win the best deal for the village. Forming an action group was especially important now to force people in authority to change their minds about the Shoreline Management Plan, which at present only called for a “hold-the-line” policy on defences in the short term and no active intervention in the medium and long term.

He believes building a rock berm or artificial reef would be cheaper in the long run than buying back properties, adding: “Why can't they make a positive commitment now which will stabilise house prices?

More about the group from Mr Hardisty on 01502 732868.