Users of Dawlish Warren beach are being invited to help a project to identify and monitor coastal erosion.

The beach is among eight that have been chosen by Plymouth Coastal Observatory to be fitted with a camera mount, enabling people to take photos on their smartphones from the same fixed point.

The photos can then be shared with the observatory via its website or by email, giving scientists a catalogue of pictures showing the changes to the beach over a period of time.

The CoastSnap project, funded by the Environment Agency, is focusing on eight beaches in Devon and Cornwall where there is significant erosion.

The information gathered will feed into beach management decisions and improve understanding of coastal processes

Coastal Process Team Leader Joseff Saunders said: "With enough images submitted over a length of time, we will better understand the natural erosion and recovery cycles that our beaches undergo, along with gauging the impact of high energy storm events."

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: "We hope the data gained through CoastSnap will help us see how sea level rise and climate change are starting to impact our coast, and that they will enable us to make appropriate decisions about how to respond to these pressures in the future."

The Dawlish Warren camera mount can be found near the lifeguard hut by the beach entrance.

For more information on the project, visit the Plymouth Coastal Observatory website or follow the organisation on social media (Twitter: @OfficialPCO, Instagram: @plymouth.coastal.observatory.

CoastSnap originated in Australia and has since been initiated in nine different countries, including England, France, USA and Spain.