Wicklow beach could disappear due to erosion

A popular stretch of coastline near Wicklow town could disappear within decades due to coastal erosion caused by global warming, it was claimed today.

Records from Wicklow County Council indicate that a 1.5-kilometre strip of land with a shingle beach has suffered more coastal erosion since 1995 than it did in the previous 80 years.

The most popular fishing and walking area was severely damaged again by storms earlier this month, with five-metre chunks of land washed away by high tides, heavy winds and lashing rain.