HUNDREDS of homes around the coast of Barrow are at risk of being lost by the 2050s in the face of rising seas, a study suggests.

The research examines how rising sea levels caused by climate change, combined with erosion of foreshores by waves, are increasing coastal flood risk.

It estimates that between 300 and 1,000 homes around the Barrow borough coast could eventually need to be abandoned. 

The study, which is published in the journal Oceans And Coastal Management, compares the rising risk of coastal flooding with existing policies for managing the coast.

England could face around 35cm (14in) of sea level rise compared to historic levels by 2050 and is nearly certain to see close to 1m (3ft) of sea level rise by the end of the century, the study said.

Rising seas combined with increased wave-driven erosion are raising the risk of coastal flooding, forcing the Government and communities to decide how to respond - mainly whether to hold the line against the sea by building and maintaining defences or realign the shoreline and move properties.

The study focuses on the impacts of flooding and does not include properties directly at risk from coastal erosion such as clifftop homes.

Lead author Paul Sayers, an engineering consultant with the University of East Anglia's Tyndall Centre, said: "Significant sea level rise is now inevitable.

"For many of our larger cities at the coast protection will continue to be provided but for some coastal communities this may not be possible.

"We need a serious national debate about the scale of the threat to these communities and what represents a fair and sustainable response, including how to help people to relocate."

The study did not look at local features, or nationally important infrastructure such as nuclear sites, that would mean the immediate coastline will be protected in the long term.

A Cumbria County Council spokesman said: "Cumbria is working with other Risk Management Authorities to determine how to combat rising sea levels.

"Any future strategy for rising sea levels would be in line with the overall Flood and Coastal Risk Management Strategy published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (including the recently published Road Map to 2016) and their 25 year environment plan.

"A key element of the strategy would be for future ‘adaptation’ to all sources of flooding."