Work to reinstate the depleted shingle beaches in front of the town and below the cliffs at Sidmouth’s east beach could start within a month – if district bosses can secure funding to pay for it.

If the proposal goes ahead, it could give the main beach and east beach a ‘protective blanket’ of pebbles before the onset of any winter storms.

However, before the project can begin, East Devon District Council (EDDC) must mount a successful bid for a limited pot of government funding - and begin work before a deadline looming later this autumn.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, EDDC’s deputy leader and chairman of a group looking at longer term coastal defence issues for Sidmouth, said: “This is a window of opportunity to provide the seafront and east beach with a protective ‘winter blanket’, using emergency funding that is available now.

“This operation will go ahead only if we can get the necessary approvals and funding. We should know within the next month if it is going to happen.

“We are determined to grasp this opportunity if it is humanly possible to do so.”

If approved, the scheme would involve taking thousands of tonnes of shingle from the western end of Sidmouth’s main beach, where it has built up, and transporting it to the eastern end of the main beach and east beach.