Delayed work on sea defences in two Ceredigion towns is due to start in 2022.

Plans for Aberystwyth include an overtopping defence wall at the back of the promenade and boosting the current sea wall.

The Aberaeron scheme would see the replacement of the South Pier, a reprofiling of South Beach along with new groynes and a low wall, and repointing of the current inner harbour wall.

The initial hope was for work to begin in 2020.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “The ongoing development of the final business case for the Aberaeron Coastal Defence Scheme identified additional work requiring further flood modelling requirements. These requirements have resulted in a delay to the schemes progress. The additional modelling has now been completed and the council is in the process of obtaining the necessary consents which will allow the scheme to commence before the end of March 2022.

“Similarly, additional survey and modelling work was identified following a review of the Aberystwyth outline business case. The council has secured the additional funding from Welsh Government to undertake this work and subsequent consultation will take place during 2022.”