Corrective work has been ordered on Osea Island’s ancient causeway after hundreds of tonnes of rubble was deposited without a licence in March.

According to Osea Island Resort, the huge piles of rocks, which were flagged up as a potential danger to boats, were being used by contractors to maintain the causeway that leads to the 400-acre island in the River Blackwater, near Heybridge Basin.

But the Marine Management Organisation said that the necessary marine licence under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 had not been granted and issued a remediation notice in June that required the material to be removed within eight weeks.

Owner Nigel Frieda appealed and the notice was suspended.

The case was heard by the First Tier Tribunal, General Regulatory Chamber (Environment) and an agreement reached for the corrective work to now be carried out.