A new handrail on steps down to the beach has delighted elderly residents living nearby.

Existing railings at Chit Rocks on Sidmouth seafront were replaced and extended as part of East Devon District Council’s rolling maintenance programme.

Joan Brake, 91, of Abbeyfield Court sheltered housing, said: “A lot of us like to go down there. It’s going to help us get right down onto the sandy beach. I tried it out and it’s wonderful.

“Having asked the EDDC if they could put a handrail at Chit Rocks to help the elderly get on the beach, they certainly installed the railing for us. Thank you!”

A spokesman for the Council said: “The additional handrails were added as part of a rolling programme to replace the existing railings in this area with a plastic coasted product, which doesn’t become rusted when it’s been abraded by the shingle. The total cost of supply and installation of this most recent section of railings was just under £10,000.”