The destruction of Spain's coastline

2005: The Azata del Sol complex on the Algarrobico beach in the Cabo de Gata park in Almeria, southern Spain Photograph: Pedro Armestre/Greenpeace

2007: Scores of Greepeace activists disembark in front of the hotel Azata del Sol, Algarrobico, which has been built on the first coastal line of Carboneras, Almeria. The activists painted 'Illegal Hotel' on the front of the hotel Photograph: Arturo Rodriguez/EPA

2007: New holiday homes being built in Altea on Spain's Costa Blanca. According to Greenpeace Spain is failing to stop the overbuilding which is destroying its Mediterranean coastline [Caption amended 5 June 2009] Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty

Benidorm as it was in 1960 Photograph: EFE/Corbis

Towers in Benidorm on the Costa del Sol, as it is now Photograph: Pierre-philippe Marcou/AFP/Getty

2007: A packed beach in Benidorm Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty

Torremolinos, Costa Del Sol, as it was in 1959 Photograph: Pat Jackson/Rex Features

Torremolinos, Malaga, as it is now Photograph: Jose B Ruiz/Nature Picture Library/Rex Features

2009: A view of a building at the beach of Torremolinos, near Malagá Photograph: Reuters

2006: Construction work close to the Mediteranean sea in Calpe, near Valencia Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters

2009: Buildings line up at the beach of Cullera near Valencia. The European Parliament has said that Spain is not doing enough to protect individuals and the environment from abuse by developers, construction firm and local government involved in its property sector Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters

2008: A bulldozer demolishes a house at Cho Vito village in Tenerife. Civil guard officers started the planned eviction of 23 families from their houses following orders to demolish them due to an infringement on the coastal housing law which prohibits constructions from being closer than 50 metres from the shoreline Photograph: Reuters