FEARS have been raised the Dovercourt promenade could eventually collapse unless urgent action is taken to stop rapid coastal erosion.

Brian Vincent from St Helen’s Green in Harwich said cracks on the promenade and a lack of marine life in the River Stour are signs of a bleak future caused by dredging a channel for large ships.

The 85-year-old, who is an avid sailor, said specialist groynes could be built to slow the water and create a beach.

But marine life is also causing the former Royal navy conscript concern.

“In my youth there was an abundance of soles, plaice, eels, skate, porpoises, cod even some lobsters - now there are none.” he said.

“This could be from the millions of tons dredged from the harbour channel, which I believe has been dumped in the Stour under the Harwich Haven Authority resilting programme.

“Something needs to be done.”

Harwich Haven Authority was not available for comment.