Scottish buildings, transport infrastructure, cultural and natural heritage worth an estimated £1.2 billion is at risk of coastal erosion by 2050, according to research published. Net Zero Secretary Michael Matheson, visiting the sand dunes in the town of Montrose on Scotland's east coast, says the research by the University of Glasgow shows that at least 20 billion pounds of assets, road, rail and residential property, lie within 50 metres of the coast. Maintaining natural coastal defences has to be a key part of Scotland's resilience and adaptation strategies, he says. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES