A long-running bid to shore up Cromer's sea defences has taken a step forward, but could still see a two-year wait for work to start.Five years ago it was hoped to revamp the walls, and groynes in an £8m scheme to dovetail in with a seafront regeneration.

A long-running bid to shore up Cromer's sea defences has taken a step forward, but could still see a two-year wait for work to start.

Five years ago it was hoped to revamp the walls, and groynes in an £8m scheme to dovetail in with a seafront regeneration.

But it fell victim of series of hiccups - first falling short of government funding formula by just one point in 2004, then hit by a sea defence spending freeze because of an overcommitted pot of cash the following year.

However hopes have risen after North Norfolk District Council has won a £250,000 government grant to review the strategy behind the scheme - though the actual project could still have to wait until 2010-11.

The council's head of coastal strategy Peter Frew said he was “confident something will be done eventually - it is just a matter of when.”

The paperwork studies were “starting from scratch” which was frustrating, because some of problems had been identified as urgent in the past. The council might have to step in and carry out emergency remedial work then seek grant help to reclaim the cost.

Government systems had changed over the years, but under the latest one the council was getting money up front for reviews rather than having to seek it under the main scheme funding - which might leave them out of pocket if refused.

As well as looking at the walls on the mile-long seafront, and the groynes, the scheme would also investigate a possible recharge of the beach levels.