Storms have ripped out huge stone slabs from the sea wall at Sheerness leaving part of Sheppey's flood defences exposed.

The slabs are now strewn across the beach near the Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club headquarters in Marine Parade and are visible at low tide.

An area of wall which protects houses behind it, opposite Seager Road, is now vulnerable.

It is believed most of the damage happened during Storm Eunice which battered the Island with record-breaking winds on February 14 along with exceptionally high tides.

Bad weather and snow on Friday may have made the damage worse.

Veteran yachtsman and sailing club member Tim Bell, 77, said: "The power of the sea often washes out the ragstone blocks from the sea wall at that point.

"What is really annoying is that the Environment Agency, which is responsible for 'holding the line' and maintaining the sea defences, always seems to bodge the repair.

"In the past, instead of cementing the slabs back into place, it has simply poured concrete over the hole and left the ragstone and granite blocks lying around as a hazard. It will be interesting to see if it does that again."

He added: "When the club wanted to move the blocks into a better position to form a breakwater next to one of the damaged groynes to help maintain the beach level, it told us we needed planning permission."

The Environment Agency spent £1.19m three years ago rebuilding the nearby Neptune Jetty which still gets flooded during high tides.

A spokeswoman for Swale council said: "We are aware of the damage caused to the sea wall in Sheerness by last week’s storm and have let the Environment Agency know that it needs repairing.”

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We are aware of the damage to the surface stone sets that form part of the sea defences at Sheerness.

"These large slabs of stone can occasionally be dislodged by heavy tidal conditions such as we have experienced recently. The integrity of the defences is maintained due to the hard base under the stones and so this does not pose any immediate risk.

"We will be undertaking further assessment and repair of the sea wall in due course.”