RISING sea levels and increasingly stormy weather could make some exclusive Sandbanks homes "unliveable" within 25 years, a geology expert has warned.

And the Environment Agency has forecast sea flooding on the peninsula within 60 years, as higher seas make the coastline from Purbeck to Christchurch 30 times more at risk than it is today.

Although no one is certain of its extent, climate change and the melting of the polar ice caps could radically transform coastal areas.

Sandbanks, which, by its very proximity to the sea has become one of the most exclusive and expensive places to live in the world, could find itself too close for comfort.

Dr Edward Coombe, a consultant in coastal geomorphology, said current estimates predicted a 7-10cm sea-level rise a decade, but low-pressure systems and severe storms could create sudden rises of more than a foot.

The former lecturer and research fellow at Oxford University, who now lives in Canford Heath, added: "Sandbanks is a wave-created land form and waves will go on to destroy it in due course.

"This is what happens when sea levels rise.

"Storminess is increasing and the period between catastrophic events is decreasing.

"The 50-year storm is now the 25-year storm.

"I would never buy property in Sandbanks even if I could possibly afford it.

"The insurance alone is going to be prohibitively expensive.

"I feel for the poor people who have been encouraged to invest in vastly expensive properties.

"They might be all right for their lifetime, but for their children and grandchildren it could be absolutely catastrophic.

"This is something which if I didn't say, I'd be failing in my professional duty. In 25 years it could be unliveable."

Mark Rice, a spokesman for the Environment Agency, said it was currently modelling the effects of higher seas and increasing storms on Sandbanks as part of a review of the area.

He said the highest spring tides could flood Panorama Road and Shore Road in the future, with "storm surges" having a similar effect.

He said: "There could be some overtopping on the coastal side, but we are not terribly concerned at the moment.

"It's obviously vulnerable and at increased risk of flooding from the sea.

"It's a good example of a low-lying area at increasing threat from climate change.

"It is inevitably very difficult to defend."

UK Climate Change Impact Scenarios, based on medium to high projected emission levels, show the sea in the South West will rise 20cm by 2020, 45cm by 2050 and 80cm by 2080.

And one of the most striking effects will be the increase in the frequency of flooding.

Purbeck to Christchurch will be the worst affected area in the South West.

Here the likelihood of a severe tidal flood, currently at 0.5 per cent in any one year, could rise by more than 30 times to 16 or 17 per cent.

Mr Rice said: "The fact that we are a peninsula means we are going to suffer more than other areas. At the moment we are specifically looking at Sandbanks, but we will review the rest of that area.

"It is not going to be possible to defend every community.

"Decisions have to be taken on the grounds of what is socially required and what is economically viable as well."

But Pippa Sole, associate at Savills estate agents, Canford Cliffs, said she had never known flood risk to be an issue with vendors, buyers or insurers.

"It's not a question people raise," she said. "People are still buying down there and prices for houses on the water are at an all-time high.

"It doesn't seem to have affected us yet. But maybe it will in the future."