The Island has a touch of Egypt about it after mountains of shingle have being moved on the beach by Marine Parade.

Contractors Ovenden are carrying out work for the Environment Agency and are moving 15,000 cubic metres of surplus shingle and ballast from the beach alongside Neptune Terrace to Barton’s Point.

Material is being stacked up by Sheerness Sailing Club and taken by road to Barton’s Point.

Nigel Hemingway, contracts manager for Ovenden, based in Wingham Well, near Canterbury, said that the firm is reprofiling Barton’s Point where erosion has occurred.

Betty Oldmeadow, 71, contacted the Times Guardian, after seeing the work when walking in the area with her husband and son.

She sent in this photograph and said: “It was really interesting to watch all the work in progress. It was like a touch of Egypt coming to Sheppey.”

Mr Hemmingway said that the firm was only transporting excess shingle and that coastal defences were not being compromised at Neptune Terrace.

The work is set to continue for the next two weeks.