PART of a footpath along a Hampshire sea wall has been closed after being damaged during bad weather.

Stokes Bay, Gosport, has fallen victim to excessively high winds and extremely strong winds, which have lowered the level of the beach and undermined a 60-metre section of the wall.

The area affected is near the Alverbank Hotel.

A Gosport Borough Council spokesman said: "The damage is being investigated by engineers from the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership, who will arrange work to stabilise the wall and make it safe.

"Their goal will be to re-open the section of footpath before Christmas.

Meanwhile, planned maintenance work is scheduled to start on October 14 on a nearby section of the sea wall and the roadside splash wall. The work will stabilise the sea wall and prevent further deterioration of the splash wall.

The work will take place from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, for about six weeks. It will mean closing another section of footpath and setting up a diversion.

"One lane of Stokes Bay Road will also be closed for up to two weeks, during working hours. It will be reopened overnight and at weekends.

"A temporary compound will be set up in one half of the Alverbank East car park, meaning fewer parking spaces will be available."