A HUGE hole has been smashed in North Berwick's harbour wall amid severe damage to the town's seafront caused by stormy conditions over the weekend.

The town was subjected to four-metre waves in combination with spring tides that created hazardous conditions throughout Saturday and Sunday.

The harbour wall and walkway were significantly damaged overnight with a breach that has left behind a mound of dislodged bricks and stone alongside a large hole in the outer wall.

The harbour area is also home to a variety of beach huts that house small businesses which have also suffered damage and have been forcibly moved due to the conditions.

North Berwick Harbour Trust, a group of volunteers that manages the harbour area, took to social media to share the extent of the damage.

The charity explained that the damage was significant and that fundraising measures would be required to repair the structure.

A spokesperson said this morning: "Sadly, things have gotten much worse overnight. The wall has been further breached and the walkway has partially collapsed.

"There is lots of other mess too.

"North Berwick Harbour Trust is a charity ran by local volunteers. We lease the area from East Lothian Council and are tasked to repair, maintain, conserve and improve the harbour and its facilities.

"We will be putting a plan in place to fund the repairs and would be grateful for information on organisations who provide emergency funding and support.

"Please message us if you have any details that could help."

Volunteers have headed down to the the harbour to help clean up the area this morning.

Further along the waterfront, waves battered the coastline and threw debris from the sea as far as the town centre, with a broken bench finding its way as far as Church Road.

West Beach was subject to some of the worst conditions as the waves washed away an access stairway to the beach and damaged grass verges and banking along towards Elcho Green.

The town's RNLI lifeboat crew has warned people to remain safe and vigilant in the area.

They said: "Stay back from the water's edge. Don't risk it for a photo. Feel humbled by the power of the sea from a safe distance."

Kenny Miller, chair of North Berwick Community Council, said: "The damage along the coast this morning is devastating, with both East and West bays having suffered damage.

"The damage to the harbour wall is astonishing, and the most expensive thing to repair. We don't yet know costs, or indeed where the money will come from.

"A massive thank you again to the many volunteers who turned up this morning, but with the storm forecast later in the week there is little point in a big clean up operation yet."

An East Lothian Council spokesperson said: “North Berwick Harbour has sustained significant damage and an assessment/survey is being arranged to discuss the response and required actions at the harbour and nearby area.”