IT is critical to Lymington's identity and economy.

Hundreds of boat owners moor up there every year. It provides hundreds of jobs and generates millions of pounds.

But Lymington harbour is under threat. The stark warning is it will be gone altogether in 30 years if action is not taken soon.

A campaign is being mounted in the New Forest town to generate support for a scheme to save the harbour by installing two breakwaters.

The harbour is currently protected from the full force of the sea's waves by 12 acres of salt marshes.

But these are rapidly eroding and breakwaters are needed to save the harbour.

Harbourmaster Ryan Willegers, from Lymington Harbour Commissioners, said: "Through natural causes, the salt marsh in the estuary that protects the harbour from the open Solent is being eroded."

Andrew Colenutt, coastal projects officer at New Forest District Council, has been involved in researching salt marsh erosion in the Solent for the last 15 years. He said: "The effective life of the salt marshes at Lymington is up until 2030 and the marshes will have pretty much disappeared by 2050."

Mr Willegers said the harbour commissioners are counting on public support to help secure the success of their breakwater plans. "From the environmental point of view, saving 12 acres of salt marsh at the same time as saving the harbour is good news for the harbour. We hope the regulators will see it the same way."

The harbour commissioners are consulting with Natural England, the New Forest National Park Authority and the Environment Agency.

They are urging the public to write to all three organisations to express support for the scheme.

Their first meeting with Natural England, whose support is vital, is on December 5. For more information visit www.lymingtonharbour.co.uk.