Concrete slabs to protect a coastal community from storm damage have themselves fallen victim to the recent bad weather.
A huge stone from the revetment at East Wemyss seashore thought to weigh around a tonne and a half was thrown several feet up a flight of stairs during a storm at the end of December.
Other blocks from the defences installed almost 13 years ago following a series of serious floods were also affected.
Councillor Jim Young told The Courier: “The storm was so bad it’s moved a tonne weight of stone up half a flight of stairs.
“It’s blocking the stair access to the beach and it’s burst the handrail that people use to help them get up and down.”
Mr Young wrote to Fife Council’s head of transportation and environmental services, Dr Bob McLellan, to ask what inspection regime the local authority had for its coastal defences and when repairs would be made.
“I’ve had a reply saying there was an inspection on January 15 and they were gathering together a contract and a tracker vehicle which will come on to the beach and repair the damage.
“They’re doing the same at West Wemyss and Dysart.”
The councillor said the damage to the revetment had not caused any real problems for the community and made it clear the village was not at risk of flooding.
“The only real issue is this huge stone halfway up the stairs, as no one can use the stairs,” he said.
Fife Council has been waiting for low tide before carrying out the maintenance work, which is now due to start on Monday February 25.
It said the rock armour was flexible and moved with the currents, adding that some could become displaced every now and then.
The revetment was created in 2000 as part of a £5 million coastal defence package for the Wemyss villages and Dysart.
Higher and stronger than the previous rock armour, it was hoped it would protect the villages for 50 years.