A voluntary lifeboat service in a village near Great Yarmouth is unable to launch following severe coastal erosion.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

The erosion at Hemsby also saw several homeowners lose portions of their gardens and the beach was strewn with debris that had been unearthed by the strong tides.

In 2013 three properties fell into the sea in Hemsby and Dan Hurd, coxswain at Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service, said the most recent surges were even more damaging.

He said: “We are unable to launch at the moment because there is a 12 foot drop down there, so there’s not a lot we can do really. We’ll need to get a digger down there to get a slip way in but the tides are too high and strong currently.

“In an emergency we will see what we can do, but I think the damage is worse than the 2013 surges. It’s a complete mess down there.”

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Coastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick ButcherCoastal erosion hits large parts of Hemsby beach.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)