Villagers in a seaside community effectively cut off from neighbouring towns after its main road was washed away in a giant storm say they have lost a 'lifeline' to the outside world.
Families in Torcross, Devon were forced to evacuate earlier this month when 12ft waves swept in, demolishing stone walls, ripping up pavements and shattering windows two weeks ago.
Since then many have been unable to return to their homes with some families forced to sleep in their cars.
But the most striking damage happened along a two mile exposed causeway between a freshwater lake and the sea called the Slapton Line which connects the village with nearby Dartmouth.
A 200m stretch of the tarmac as well as giant granite and metal sea defences were ripped up and discarded by the incredible power of the storm.
Repairs could cost up to £18million and take until 2027 to complete but villagers - many of whom rely on tourism - have told the Daily Mail they are almost all still open for business and are desperate for the work to start regardless of the cost.
The road was previously washed away in 2001, 2016 and 2018 and the government has not yet said it is willing to repair it yet again.
Residents of Torcross such as Jeremy Wilson (pictured)effectively cut off from neighbouring towns after its main road was washed away in a giant storm and repairs could
Torcross, in Devon, is now cut off from the rest of the world after a 200 metre section of road fell into the sea
Suggestions from local politicians that not repairing the road could turn it into a tourist destination were met with derision from villagers.
Jeremy Wilson who runs a nursery and has displayed his flowers at the Chelsea Flower show said: 'People outside of Torcross think it's just a road but they don't understand the importance but for this community that road is a lifeline.
'When you call the emergency services they often come from Dartmouth because it's quicker than Kingsbridge but that journey would take 30 minutes longer now.
'Thankfully it hasn't happened yet but what if somebody urgently needs an ambulance and it can't get through the lanes?
'The only way is along back roads but if they get flooded or if they have to shut then there's no way.
'But it's not like we have an alternative.
'I used to use that road every single day to drive from home to work but that's currently 30 minutes extra each way, every day.
'Instead of going five miles on quick roads I am doing 10 miles on slow roads.'
Mr Wilson who runs a nursery and has displayed his flowers at the Chelsea Flower show said: 'People outside of Torcross think it's just a road but they don't understand the importance but for this community that road is a lifeline'
The A379 between Torcross and Slapton in South Devon has collapsed into the sea after Storm Imogen devastated the area earlier this month
Mr Wilson said he hasn't been able to look at the devastation for himself yet, fearing it will be too emotional.
With the road set to be out for more than a year drivers from Dartmouth must take a five mile detour along tiny potholed lanes barely wide enough for a single vehicle often with little visibility of what is coming the other way.
When the Daily Mail drove the route cars were having to squeeze into fields or muddy laybays in order to pass each other or reverse long distances to reach one of the few wider stretches.
Carol Gameson-Hughes who has lived in the village for 11 years said: 'It is a sad and depressing situation.
'We have had a load of storm watchers come to look at the damage but when they go it will be very quiet
'Deliveries are ok at the minute but we are not into Summer or Easter yet that will be a whole different matter.
'All HGVs coming to the village are having to go via Bowcombe Bridge which is putting a lot more pressure on the old bridge, especially as traffic is queueing and stopping on the bridge itself.
'If something were to happen to that we would not be able to get in or out.'
The village and its shingle bar had been used for rehearsals of the D-Day landings because it resembled Utah Beach in Normandy, but it looks more like a warzone now than ever.
Not a single house along the seafront is livable with most having boarded up windows while garden walls, outdoor furniture and patches of pavement have been turned to rubble.
John Willcock, owner of the Billy Can cafe, was in his flat above the business when the storm hit.
He said: 'It was incredibly loud, the waves were hitting the upstairs windows.
'We don't know how much trade we're down by yet but we will definitely feel it in the summer.
'We want people to know we are still open as usual.'
Some 300,000 holidaymakers come to Torcross each summer. Now access to the village is much more limited, with only one road remaining, which forces a massive detour on narrow country lanes for drivers heading to Slapton or nearby Dartmouth.
Cath Sanders, landlady of the Tradesman's Arms in nearby Stokenham said bookings are down between 60 per cent and 80 per cent compared to this time last year with many punters believing they can't get to them and customers to keep coming.
Cath Sanders (pictured), landlady of the Tradesman's Arms in nearby Stokenham said bookings are down between 60 per cent and 80 per cent compared to this time last year with many punters believing they can't get to them and customers to keep coming
She said: 'The Slapton Line is a lifeline for businesses here because otherwise people have to come via the lanes which are a real struggle, especially during the summer.
'We are still getting deliveries but it is taking them longer to get to us as the lanes can't keep up with the volume of traffic - especially delivery vans - so we are worried they may put prices up or deliver less frequently.
'If the road isn't fixed a lot of hospitality businesses around here will struggle to stay open and that's then a lot of money that isn't paid into the economy.
'The pub was completely destroyed by fire in 2021 so with this we've had our fair share of challenges but I'm a positive person and my message to people is you can still get to us and we are very much still open for business.'
