Dartmouth's crumbling public slipway has been getting worse – even though repair work started last week.

Over the bank holiday weekend the slipway was hit by spring tides which left even more damage in their wake.

Now the June 1 deadline when the repair work was due to be completed has had to be extended another week.

A spokesman for South Hams Council said: 'Over the bank holiday weekend, the public slipway condition worsened due to the action of the spring tides.

'As a result further loss of structural integrity has occurred around two thirds of the way down its length.

'This has resulted in a larger repair than originally anticipated and the repair project will now run to the end of next week.'

He added: 'Work is ongoing, with the first successful concrete pour yesterday [Tuesday] on the low tide, more is planned for today and tomorrow.

'Next week work will commence on the most damaged section, once the sections either side have had time to cure.'

South Hams executive member for assets Cllr Hilary Bastone said: 'While we are doing the job it is important that we get it right and complete it as necessary to make sure that the repair holds and is of a good standard.'

The slipway was closed a fortnight ago after it was declared too dangerous to use as holes appeared in its surface.

Work began on repairing the slipway on Wednesday last.

The slipway has been declared vital to marine businesses as well as the town's rowing clubs because it is the only public slipway of its kind in Dartmouth.

It is also vital for the town's inshore lifeboat which uses the slipway to launch when answering emergency call outs.