THE £637,000 Steam Coast Trail between Dunster Beach and Blue Anchor became a victim of this week’s Storm Eleanor when high tides driven by 60 mph winds covered the path with mud, rocks and shingle.
The 1.5km beach-side trail opened just over a year ago, and this is the first time it has been seriously hit by the weather.
As walkers and cyclists were confronted by what one descrbed as “an absolute mess with deep floodwater and really big stones”, Friends of the Steam Coast Trail posted a Facebook appeal asking for help.
It said: “Anyone got a shovel? We’re looking for volunteers to help clean up the trail when the storms subside.
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One walker said on Thursday: “You’re going to need more than shovels to clear the path. This is a job for at least a digger.”
The rest of West Somerset avoided major damage from the storm.