Seaton beach huts smashed by storm as owners are condemned

Owl has also received images of damage to beach huts in Budleigh (see below).

Owl’s Budleigh correspondent points out that huts were badly damaged in the Spring ten years ago and observes that, in recent years, some owners appear to be putting their huts up early and taking them down late. Gales are quite likely from mid October to end of March and this creates a potential H&S flying debris issue. This is likely to get worse with global warming.

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

Beach hut owners have been condemned for putting themselves at risk amid a raging storm in an attempt to salvage their beach huts. Coastguards were called to Seaton beach last night, March 28, following reports that people were on the beach as waves battered the huts.

Dramatic photographs of the scene today, shared on social media by Beer Coastguard Rescue Team, show the extent of the damage caused to some of the beach huts. One appears to have been completely flattened while another is shown upturned.

Others have been shunted off their bases with the doors broken following yesterday’s onslaught of high winds and heavy rain.

Beer Coastguard Rescue Team posted on its Facebook page: “Seaton beach this morning after last night’s high tide and storm. Beer and Lyme coastguards were tasked to attend last night as some people were putting themselves at risk of injury by trying to get to their beach huts as seas were breaking over them.”

Damage caused by the storm to beach huts in Seaton (Image: Beer Coastguard Rescue Team)

Yesterday, March 28, the Met Office extended its yellow weather warning for the region until midnight. It warned of gale-force winds expected for much of the south. Today’s weather is a much calmer picture with a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers predicted in the south west.