CLACTON’S beaches are becoming dangerous because council bosses are dragging their feet over repairs, it has been claimed.

Campaigners fear exposed metal on the beach at Holland-on-Sea is an accident waiting to happen.

The sea has stripped the sand from the shore, leaving hazards and a huge drop on to the beach from the promenade.

Clacton and Holland Beach Hut Association claims urgent action should be carried out to make it safe.

Linda Jacobs, chairman, has accused Tendring Council of being complacent.

She said: “The drop from the promenade is about 22ft – that would kill a child.

“There is metal sticking up in the water too. If someone dives into that there will be a fatality.”

The council was forced to cordon off more than 500m of beach at Holland-on-Sea a year ago because the falling beach level had left a dangerous drop to the shore.

Mrs Jacobs’s beach hut looks out on to a “beach closed” sign.

She claims a lack of investment will drive beach hut owners away in the run-up to the holiday season and could affect tourism.

She added: “There is so much sand in Jaywick they are sweeping it off the streets, but not in Holland-on-Sea.

“It would only be a temporary measure to recharge the beach but at least it would keep tourism alive.

“Sooner or later someone has to bite the bullet and find the money, but there is so much foot-dragging and no leadership from the council.”

Peter Halliday, the council’s deputy leader, defended the authority, but said he would take up safety concerns with officers.

He also said pumping cash into replacing the sand would be expensive and a waste of money.

“You can’t do it on a temporary basis,” he said.

“It would only take one storm to remove all that sand and investment overnight so doing it in an ad hoc fashion isn’t acceptable.”

Tory Mr Halliday accused Mrs Jacobs, who stood in last year’s local elections for the Labour party, of “playing politics”.