A campaigner was 'gob-smacked' after successfully fighting for the council to protect her village with coastal defences, only to find they don't cover her home - which will likely be demolished.

Sophie Marple, 55, has lived in Thorpeness, Suffolk, for more than 20 years, and watched as 11 local properties had to be knocked down in January, as they were about to fall into the sea.

She fundraised and lobbied alongside fellow residents for defences, hoping to secure the future of her property and others along the coast.

Villagers themselves paid £250,000 for temporary rock bags along the beach, and East Suffolk Council announced earlier this year that it would contribute £300,000 towards further protection.

But Ms Marple was shocked to learn that the rock barrier stops just short of her and her neighbour, Meg Walker, while covering a plot of empty land.

Ms Marple told the Daily Mail: 'It is absolutely unjust.

'We are all facing the same erosion and the same risk so to say that we don't count and demolition is the only option has left me gob-smacked.

'I'm not asking for any preferential treatment - the reality is this is a national problem.

'It is being pushed onto the homeowner. We've raised money for our own defences, had our own surveys carried out.

'The council just say crack on. They haven't got the money or the people with the expertise to give advice - the only thing they've done is offer to cover the cost of demolition.'

Erosion has stolen 27 metres of cliff in the past year in Thorpeness, with the fence at the back of Ms Marple's property now just three metres from the cliff edge.

The mum-of-two rebuilt her dream home 12 years ago following a significant erosion event, during which the council and community worked together to install defences.

Ms Marple said that gave her hope the property would be protected over time, and she even convened villagers as the years went on to fight for more support.

She said: 'Thorpeness is a very beautiful, historic and magical place.

'There's always a risk when you buy a house that's sea-facing, but it was an absolute dream of mine.

'After the erosion event, we had the hope we would be able to work together with the council again.

'We made the decision to invest our time, energy, and emotion into building this house.'

Rock bags have been laid along around 100 metres of coastline being rapidly eroded, but Ms Marple and her neighbour's properties do not fall within that.

The protection scheme costs £550,000 in total - a combination of £300,000 from the council's budget and £250,000 raised by villagers and the owners of threatened homes.

Ms Marple doesn't know how long her property will last before needing to be knocked down, but said she would be alerted by the council's demolition firm once it had reached a 'trigger point'.

With a staggering eight metres of coastline lost six weeks ago in a 'shocking acceleration', that time could be closer than ever predicted.

She said: 'The three phases of defences are a knotted mess. If we don't defend our road, the houses behind it and further down will be affected.

'They've used the £300,000 to defend a site where six properties have been demolished.

'We've all contributed in good faith to the defences and then they say "You don't count, you should demolish."'

Ms Marple also explained that a storm in March had pushed shingle from the beach onto rock bags that were being stored by the council at the bottom of her cliff.

After the storm, the bags were removed - which Ms Marple said left her property 'vulnerable'.

Around ten homes behind Ms Marple's along North End Avenue could also be at risk if the coastline continues to erode.

Her neighbour, Meg, runs the five-bedroom seaside holiday cottage Shore Cote, built in 1892, with prices around £1,275 per week.

Ms Walker also faces demolition if the coast continues to erode, because her property will not be covered by the sea defences.

She said: 'We do feel like we're being treated slightly unfairly.

'We both contributed to erosion funds ten years ago and I've already lost my beach. Every tide matters.

'I tried to get Shore Cote listed building permission but I was told even though I could, it was likely going to be demolished.

'It's the oldest holiday home in Thorpeness and there's very few on the beach here.

'It's made of wood but it's been a very successful holiday home over the years.

'In 1911, they had really high tides and storms, the house fell off the cliff and onto the beach.

'They were able to roll it intact to where it is now, even back then.

'But today, we're being left behind.'

An East Suffolk Council spokeswoman said legislation meant it cannot carry out work to areas of known risk where the safe demolition of property is possible.

She said: 'We have been engaging with all affected residents in the North End Avenue area, including Sophie Marple, since last spring about their erosion risk following publication of the Environment Agency's national erosion risk maps

'Whilst we are sympathetic to Sophie's situation, we have a duty to use taxpayers funds responsibly and seek the best outcome possible for the maximum number of properties.

'Extending the rock bags northwards would not be strategically, technically, environmentally or financially feasible, as an extension would cost a minimum of £300,000 in an attempt to slow erosion to only two homes, for a short period of time, where the risk is already known and plans are already in place for safe removal of properties when necessary.

'We understand this is a distressing time for all affected residents and we are continuing to support homeowners, including Sophie Marple, to whom we have also offered support and direct financial assistance, to help safely remove her property should it become necessary.'