A collapsed chalk cliff is to be secured with about £650,000 of funding from Dartford council.

Earlier this year, the cliff collapsed sending chalk into people’s gardens, car parks and a children’s playground in Eagles Road.

The rubble, about 30 tons of chalk, was removed and the car park in Quay Lane was sealed off as work was undertaken.

A further £200,000 is to be spent after a Dene hole - chalk caves underground - opened up in a garden in Howard Road in November.

At about four metres deep, investigations revealed further problems with the stability of the ground and a large void that stretched out below three houses in the street.

People were evacuated from the houses over fears of further collapses and a consultant was brought in to assess what needed to be done.

A report before Dartford council, which is expected to sign off the cash on Monday, July 28, states: “The significant amount of remedial work needed essentially involves the construction of an underground retaining structure with the estimated 300 cubic metres void infillled with a suitable material that will not cause further issues or subsidence underground and allow the three properties affected to be re-let.”