THE storm of 1953 devastated our coastline but if it happened today it would be little more than a minor flood.

Canterbury City Council's engineering manager Ted Edwards is confident that the sea defences could cope.

In the past 50 years tons of extra shingle has been brought in and the sea walls along Whitstable and Herne Bay strengthened to ensure they can withstand the sort of floods expected every 100 to 200 years.

Mr Edwards said that during his 15 years with the council an average of £1.2 million had been spent each year on major works.

"We've made considerable improvement in urban areas. Whitstable was greatly improved in 1989 and Herne Bay in 1992. Since then we've also done work at Swalecliffe, Tankerton, Hampton and Reculver.

"If we were hit by a massive storm today, the same level as the one in 1953, we might have minor flooding."

Herne Bay and Whitstable are protected by their shingle beaches, which break the waves, with the sea wall as a second line of defence.

Mr Edwards said: "Our shingle beaches are natural, but we have recharged them over the years because there is a high level of erosion. Of the money spent on sea defences, probably half has gone on new shingle because it is quite expensive. We also have timber boards to reduce the amount washed away.

"In areas with a very high erosion rate we have used rocks."

The sea walls have been repaired and reinforced over the decades, but many date back to Victorian times. Their heights are carefully calculated.

"The walls in Herne Bay and Whitstable would be a metre higher than the high water level in the 1953 storm," Mr Edwards said.

"I would be a fool to say we'll never have another flood, but our improvement works are ongoing and I'd say our defences are pretty good."