Storm surge: Cromer Pier damaged and beach huts destroyed

A clean-up operation is under way in north Norfolk after Friday's storm destroyed beach huts and damaged a 116-year-old pier.

The east coast escaped significant flooding, but large waves hit north Norfolk breaching Cromer's sea wall destroying about a dozen beach huts and damaging many more.

The town's award-winning pier took a battering and is expected to remain closed until Monday while damage is assessed.

A section of the promenade was ripped-up but the sea walls are undamaged, the district council said.

Richard Leeds, operations manager at the Cromer branch of the RNLI, said: "My family has had a beach hut here for 100 years and to lose it is a bit traumatic - but we'll have a new one in place for the summer.

"Hopefully they will all be replaced as they're part of Cromer's heritage."

Tom FitzPatrick, leader of North Norfolk District Council said: "We are out in force today to assess and repair the damage caused by the storm surge...

"For our teams the focus now is on helping the community to clear the debris and get everything safe and open to the public as quickly as possible."