One of England’s oldest seaside towns at risk of losing its beach forever
A SEASIDE town in the UK that was once a popular Victorian resort is at risk of losing its main beach.
Southport's main sandy beach stretches more than 22 miles along the Merseyside town.
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"It's a great shame as the attraction of a beach is that it's one of the few places families can have fun without spending much money."
The seaside town has declined in recent years, despite being a popular staycation destination back in the 1700s.
It was even thought to have inspired Paris, with the Champs-Elysees based on the wide Lord Street when Napoleon III visited in 1838.
However, a number of closures have plagued the town in recent years.
Last year, the Pontins closed it's holiday park in Southport although there are hopes it could be turned into a Butlin's.
And the 3,600ft Southport Pier - the second longest in the UK - has been closed since 2022.
Citing health and safety reasons, works to restore it are yet to start with costs predicted to hit £13million.
More than 97 per cent of locals said they wanted the pier restored while Dr Anya Chapman, Principal Academic in Tourism Management at Bournemouth University said they that they were an "iconic" part of seaside towns.
She added: "Without a pier, coastal towns lose their identity as 'seaside resorts', which is why so many coastal communities have fought hard to retain or save their piers in the last decade."
Families who still want to visit Southport can head to Pleasureland Theme Park which reopens this spring, with four themed lands and 30 attractions.
And works have started on the £73million leisure centre, hoping to o transform the town's waterfront.
Another beach at risk of disappearing is Covhithe Beach in Suffolk.
Despite attempts to reduce the risk of erosion, there are fears the wild beach could be gone as soon as 2040.
Elsewhere in the UK, another seaside town is making their beach bigger.
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Pubs of Southport
The Windmill Pub in Southport, Merseyside dates back to 1833 - and was initially three separate fisherman's cottages before various brewers swooped in.
The self-styled 'typical English pub' pub was named Merseyside Pub and Bar of the Year in the National Pub and Bar Awards - securing its place in the running for the top national award.
And the Wetherspoons pub The Sir Henry Segrave, in Southport, is to open a new hotel.
The ground floor would be turned into a hotel reception with a dedicated entrance, along with bar and kitchen upgrades.
The first, second and third floors would include the bedrooms, as well as a "plant room" and even tower suite.
The building dates back to 1880, although the pub opened in 1995.
Following both flooding and erosion in Brighton, plans for a new shore protection structure could double the width of the beach by 25 metres.
Local councillor Trevor Muten said: "The new groyne field and wider beach will help to do that and significantly reduce the amount of shingle that washes up onto the promenade every year."