NEARLY a million pounds is to be spent on improving sea defences on the North Yorkshire Coast as a result of years of pounding by the North Sea.

Scarborough Council says that a £400,000 scheme to improve the town's North Bay seawall is due for completition by next June between the former Corner Cafe complex and Royal Albert Drive, while £196,000 is being invested in a grant aided project by the Environment Agency (EA) at the beauty spot of Runswick Bay for which a project group has been set up.

Coun Mike Cockerill, Cabinet member for harbours, coast and flood protection, £340,000 had been agreed by the EA to pay for damage to sea defences at varous places on its 45 mile of coastline.

In addition, he said a coast protection scheme is planned for Whitby Harbourand for Scarborough Spa to combat overtopping by the sea, cliff failure and investigations into the condition of the sea wall.