A £1.8m project to repair Whitby's East Pier Extension will begin shortly, Scarborough Borough Council has said.

The existing structure is undermined at its south west and south east corners and sheet piles around that end of the structure are severely corroded.

The repair work - funding for which has come in the shape of grant aid from the Environment Agency - will involve propping the pier and then cutting a trench in the seabed to protect the toe of the new structure from scour.

A new wall will be constructed along the base of the pier from pre-cast reinforced concrete panels supported by steel piles placed in front of the existing structure, with a mass concrete infill between the two structures.

Ahead of the project starting, contractor Volker Stevin has moved onto the town's Endeavour Wharf, erecting site cabins and fabricating a 'jack up' barge which will be used to provide a working platform to carry out the work.

Scarborough Borough Council project manager Chris Bourne said: "While we appreciate this is the peak summer time, the works are being done at this time of year to take advantage of the good weather and favourable sea conditions. If the works were to be delayed until the winter period they would take significantly longer and cost considerably more due to the inability to work in rough seas.

"In an attempt to complete these works as quickly as possible and to make best use of the available tides, the contractor will be able to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The works are anticipated to take up to 15 weeks from commencement."

He added that work at the site would be restricted during the evening to prevent excessive noise and nuisance.

Image: Whitby's twin piers with the East Pier on the left