Determined volunteers give it their all at domain

After a major working bee on Saturday there is light at the end of the tunnel for the folk out at Clifton Domain - and an iron-clad promise for the future.

At the end of the day, Clifton Domain committee member Steve King looked over the Clifton Beach camp site and said the "back in business" signs would soon be going back up. "We will definitely be open again - we're looking at Labour Weekend," he said. "It was touch and go there for a while as to whether we could get up and running again because we got hit hard from both sides."

"Both sides" were the landslips which crashed down across the camp site and domain after a rain storm and later the high seas which hammered and eroded the coastline back in May.

"But we're a determined bunch out here," Mr King said. After appealing for volunteers to help with the seven-hour clean-up he and other members of the local committee were delighted to have 68 people turn up - wielding shovels, tools and wheelbarrows.

"We even had a builder turn up with all his tools. He just asked 'what do you want me to do?' It was just an excellent day."

As well as locals from the camp and members of the Clifton Marine Club three groups of people Mr King did not know also arrived to lend a hand.

"They just turned up to join in. It was a real community thing and we got a lot done ... it was just great."

He said a large amount of debris and soil was shifted and broken trees and driftwood cleared. As well as community help, he said the Hastings District Council had been "very supportive" as had the insurance industry. With good weather and willing hands he reckoned one more major working bee, probably in about a month, should have the Clifton landscape looking just about right again. Mr King saved his final praise for the ladies of the domain committee. "They put on two smokos and lunch ... and there was even plenty left over."