
A homeowner fears she might lose the house of her dreams as a part of Devon teeters on the brink of environmental disaster with only one barrier left between flood water and a nearby village.

A sea wall protecting Braunton in Devon was breached in November before it was widened even further by Storm Eleanor, leading to dramatic flooding of marshlands surrounding the village.

The Environment Agency says it will not pay for repair work because it believes no homes are at risk but Maranda Coleman's £340,000 property sits perilously close to a sea wall which many experts believe could be breached at the next high tide.

Ms Coleman's family has lived at the property since 1962 but she faces being forced out by the rising waters.

The 69-year-old told MailOnline: 'We're going to live here as long as we can. We'll just have to see what happens. We have plans to install a bank to protect the house, but it's not just about protecting the house.

Maranda Coleman's home is located perilously close to the rising flood water, with local residents claiming the sea could overcome the local area at the next high tide

'The sea water could damage the toll road which is our only access to the village. If that happens we'll have no access.'

Ms Coleman has so far spent £10,000 trying to fend off the sea water, including on two generators that are her only source of power.

The water could spill into the land near her house every time there is a high tide and Ms Coleman fears the foundations of her home are being eroded.

Speaking on the moment she discovered the rising waters, Ms coleman added: 'I opened the door of my home and there was a massive volume of water which filled the whole garden and was unbelievable.

Maranda Coleman, who lives in the white house located next to the sea wall, said the flooding had left her wondering if she can carrying on living in the home

Homeowner Maranda Coleman revealed how she opened her front door to find 'a massive volume of water which filled the whole garden'

'I had thought the next generation might have a problem with water covering everything. But for it to happen now when you're not prepared for it makes you think can we live here any more?'

There have been calls for urgent action to protect the landscape, which was reclaimed from the sea 200 years ago. A group fighting to save the marsh has attracted 4,200 members in just five days.

It is concerned the marsh's wildlife is under serious threat, listed buildings are being left to rot in flood water and if left unchecked the water could threaten the village of Braunton and its 7,000 residents.

One of the group's leaders, Piers Cooke, said: 'The whole story started about three or four years ago. The area used to be farmland.

'If it rained the water would escape through a drainage pipe into the mouth of the River Pill. About three years ago the flap on the pipe, which stops tidal water coming back up the pipe, broke.

'It slowly got worse and now the tunnel has been destroyed and the sea wall has since eroded. Which has caused the most recent influx of water.

'We're expecting a second breach at the next big high tide which could cause much more devastation. The inner flood defences were never designed to cope with continual flooding.'

There are calls for urgent action to protect the landscape, which was reclaimed from the sea 200 years ago. A group fighting to save the marsh - what it calls a hidden asset - has attracted 4,200 members in just five day

A sea wall (shown right) protecting Braunton in Devon was breached in November but recently Storm Eleanor widened the breach, leading to dramatic flooding of marshlands surrounding the village

Fears are growing that a part of Britain is on the brink of environmental disaster with only one barrier left between flood water and a nearby village (pictured: Ms Coleman's house sits perilously close to the storm-hit sea wall)

Brad Bunyard of Braunton Parish Council added: 'This is ancient farmland, it's a Site of Special Scientific Interest for habitat and species that live here.

'So for biodiversity it's an incredibly important place. There's a rich vein of wildlife and a lot of history here that's very much worth saving.'

Much more is at stake including 1,300 acres of marsh grazing land, the Toll Road which is the only vehicle access to Crow point for tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Horsey Island, land reclaimed from the sea centuries years ago, is now regularly flooded with every tide following a breach to an outer embankment.

The group, Friends of Braunton Marsh, are collecting signatures for an online petition which it intends to send to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove and the Environment Agency.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: 'The village of Braunton is not at risk of flooding as a result of the breach at Horsey Island – it is located a mile inland and protected by separate defences.

'The flood defences at Horsey Island are privately owned and any repairs would need to be made by the landowner.'

The Environment Agency says it will not pay for repair work because no homes are at risk, however residents expect another breach at the next high tide to cause much more devastation to the area