COAST and harbour flood defences in Christchurch stood up to the toughest test when the borough was battered by the biggest storms and tides to hit the town since the disastrous Christmas floods of almost 20 years ago.

And such was the severity of the March 10 tempest that is only likely to occur once in every 40 years, the council's community services committee heard.

But in his presentation to the committee flooding and coastal management officer Steve Woolard warned that predicted climate change could lead to similar storms occurring once every three years by 2052.

Screening spectacular scenes of waves and water overtopping Mudeford Quay, swamping the Quomps and shifting the sands from Highcliffe beach, Mr Woolard gave councillors a blow by blow account of the storm which saw high tides rise to some three feet higher than forecast.

Early warnings allowed flood protection plans to swing into action with defences deployed at Mudeford Quay the night before the storm and timber baulks to shore up the sea wall at nearby Avon Beach.

While wind and waves combined to leave Mudeford Quay and other low-lying areas under water at the height of the storm flood walls held firm around the historic Haven Cottages and only one harbourside property suffered flooding.

Police and officials stepped in to close the approach to Mudeford Quay for the safety of sightseers putting themselves and their vehicles at risk from the wind and waves strong enough to rip roofs from beach huts and boats from their moorings.

Meanwhile, upstream effective flood defences along the banks of the two rivers running through the town kept vulnerable properties dry.

In the aftermath of the storm council workmen were able to complete the clear up in time for the early Easter holiday less than a fortnight later.

Mr Woolard said the thousands of tonnes of beach material lost during the storm would recover naturally but a sand recycling operation will get under way this week to repair critical damage at Mudeford Sandbank.