A look at issues affecting the Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk coast as lockdown eases
Woman rescued from stricken yacht thanks 'amazing rescuers'
The RNLI issues advice on rip tides and staying afloat while you wait to be rescued
Visitor impressed with social distancing measures in Cromer
Crabbing business recovering after lockdown hit restaurant trade
We hope you've enjoyed our snapshot of life on the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coast.
Time for an ice cream...
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This is what you get when a former plasterer and damp-proofer puts his skills to building sandcastles.
Chris Rammell, from Surrey is up in Cromer for a week with his family, and says it will have taken three hours to complete.
Come on, drop some chips or we'll have to dive-bomb you...
The Glide School teaches people how to surf safely...
RNLI Lifeguard Rob Riches is planning a cycle ride to raise funds for the Cromer Surf Lifesave Club and the mental health charity Mind.
He intends to pedal from Land's End in Cornwall to to Ness Point at Lowestoft, and then on to Cromer.
Peter Newstead has been working hard to keep the prom in Cromer clean.
"People have been really good on the litter front," he said.
"You always get the odd one or two [dropping rubbish].
"The town was so dead before but it’s nice to see it buzzing again.
"It sometimes keeps you too busy especially with less people going abroad."
Orla Moore
BBC News
Steve Blatch, chief executive of North Norfolk District Council, said "the majority of [Cromer] town centre is back in business, doing very strong trade".
He said everything shut down as lockdown began at the end of March.
Image source, Getty Images"Non-essential businesses couldn't reopen until the middle of June, and accommodation and eateries couldn't until July," he said.
"Businesses are bouncing back and visitor numbers are up. Social distancing measures are in place - and we've moved on-street parking in our narrow streets to allow for queues.
"Whether it's bad weather or Covid - a seasonal loss of trade is something we can never get back. But the summer weather has been so good - we've been lucky."
But there has been one casualty: live entertainment at the Pier Theatre, with both the Summer Special and the Christmas Show cancelled this year.
"The older generation here have been more cautious about returning to a new normal but I'm confident we'll be back to full strength by next summer," Mr Blatch said.
"The increased footfall has given businesses here a confidence boost after an unsettling period.
"Visitors can be assured of a very warm welcome. Give us a try."
Martin Barber
BBC News
Ollie, Rob and Megan
There were almost 3,000 visitors to Cromer's east beach today according to the RNLI lifeguard team.
That meant up to 400 swimmers in the water at one time, 45 surfers and more than 30 pieces of individual safety advice given.
What a day!
Zoe Applegate
BBC News
A coach firm has appealed for drivers to use their "common sense" when parking their cars after incidents where its larger vehicles became stuck at two coastal resorts in Norfolk.
Image source, Zoe Applegate/BBCSanders Coaches, which operates the Coast Hopper, external in North Norfolk, had a bus hemmed in for two hours at the weekend at Overstrand (pictured).
Co-owner Charles Sanders said: "Sitting on a sweltering bus for two hours waiting to be rescued is not pleasant for anybody.
"People parked right up to the corners, so there’s no swing for a large vehicle to get round.
"It’s inconvenient for us on buses, but can you imagine if someone needed a fire engine, the coastguards - and they can’t get where they need to?"
The company has been forced to suspend parts of its services at times to both the resort and nearby Sea Palling due to bad parking.
Mr Sanders said they had also had to call the police to get vehicles moved or help stranded bus drivers.
"They need to start thinking more about safety," he said.
"It’s left to people’s common sense, but we’re in a bit of a selfish society sometimes."
All those visitors peering over the barriers on Cromer Pier? They're gillying - or crabbing.
And you can catch your own - free - from the pier.
If you want to know how - here's a quick guide from Experience Norfolk, external.
Martin Barber
BBC News
The one thing we’ve all had to get used during the pandemic is following a few extra directions and signs - and in Cromer people seem to be pretty good at it.
It’s a very gentle approach in reminding us all the world isn’t quite back to normal yet and we all need to play our part.
In Cromer, these subtle yellow sticker reminders seem to be working well.
A number of shops and cafes have a red/green light system to help with visitor flows.
People are also observing the need to wear masks when required.
Martin Barber
BBC News
Down on the beach between the pier and the groynes, Ben Barrow and Steph Agar are catching crab.
The sea creatures are not hard to find in the shallows:
Collect them with a gentle scoop, admire for a while, then put them back gently into the water:
Image source, Google"I'd say business is up and the beaches are busier than ever," says the owner of a Dunwich cafe that is well-known for its fish and chips.
Christian Elsley, co-owner of Flora Tea Rooms next to the beach, said its car park is usually full by lunchtime and recently every day had been "like August Bank Holiday".
"We lost three months' income during lockdown, but I think we've had a good summer so far.
"I can't compare it to last year as there's two of us running it this year, but I feel like it's busier because we've had a good run of hot weather, just scorching, and we're super busy."
Today, lots of people are taking advantage of the half price Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, but social distancing means only half his 23 inside and 16 outside tables are available, while others pick up takeaways and head to the beach.
Our eastern stretch of coast offers some pretty captivating views.
And it seems it can entice people to enjoy some beautifully scenic exercise, as this new beach runner attests to in Norfolk.
What a stunning accompaniment.
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Martin Barber
BBC News
Ben Barrow and Steph Agar have travelled to Cromer from St Albans, Hertfordshire, for a few days.
And they're indulging in a little "gillying", or crabbing, on the pier.
"We came for crabbing as we’d never done here before," Ben said.
"It was nice to come to a quaint seaside town and enjoy some old school beach.
"We’ve been at it for five hours. Unsuccessful for about three of them. A gentleman suggested we switched from bacon to squid as bait - instant success! Seven crabs in our first squid netting.
"We Googled what to do with them - use fresh water in the bucket, a few stones and seaweed ... and then you walk down the the beach and release them back into the sea."
The couple welcomed Covid-19 measures - hand sanitiser available in foot-pump form, people wearing masks in the town centre shopping area and in the stores themselves of course, and one-way systems.
"We were having to shield during Covid, so we had to feel safe. If we hadn’t felt safe, we wouldn’t have stayed," he said.
It's a ferry nice day for a boat trip, even a short one...
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Orla Moore
BBC News
Image source, Essex PoliceEssex Police set up road blocks
Essex Police said officers "acted swiftly" to prevent a planned, unauthorised music event on the beach at Bradwell-on-Sea today.
Two arrests have been made for conspiracy to commit a public nuisance.
Image source, GoogleCh Supt Glen Pavelin said: “We understand people and vehicles are travelling into Essex to attend this event.
"The message is clear, turn around or face being directed back home by our officers.
"We will use powers at our disposal to ensure this event will not take place.
"If you’re coming to Bradwell-on-Sea to attend this event, you’ll be disappointed."
Image source, Essex PolicePolice seized a vehicle, generator and music equipment
For our medical professionals - lifesaving doesn't stop.
Here are some of the busy Suffolk Accident Rescue Service volunteers - out at the coast and on hand in the sweltering temperatures.
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Safety at sea has always been a big part of the Cromer story, whether that's mariners or beach users.
The RNLI’s long history here is not only marked at the Henry Blogg Museum, external, but also in the fabric of the promenade.
This is Cromer Prospect, a fantastic installation on the forecourt of the pier, celebrating 200 years of lifeboats in the town.
The compass includes two hands symbolizing prayer and the act of remembrance (based on the compass in the HF Bailey lifeboat in Cromer’s RNLI museum).
The granite "standing stones" represent lifeboats. The lines radiate out to sea from the compass in the direction of rescue missions through the stones.
We've brought you lots of reports from the bustling resorts of Cromer and Clacton today, but roughly halfway between them is another great beach, and one that's rather less busy.
Michelle Gant tweeted these pictures of her family having fun in the sunshine at Dunwich on the Suffolk coast.
Not many problems with social distancing there, by the look of it...
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Martin Barber
BBC News
Image source, Ollie Frere-SmithCromer lifeguard Ollie Frere-Smith tells me: "We’ve had about 350 people in the water since midday.
"Estimated numbers on this stretch of beach - there’s about 2,000 people. No incidents as such but there’s been a number of things that could have escalated.
"I’ve given out 15 pieces of safety advice to those in the water.
"We’ve had some swimming out to the crow's nest - that’s about 50m off shore and they’re clearly not strong swimmers.
"The problem here is they are out of their depth, they could injure themselves on it or get caught in a rip as these tend to occur around structures in the sea."
A seaside village pub has doubled its serving staff and taken on two extra chefs as people flock to the coast.
Image source, David James"The weather has a huge impact, of course, drink sales are up and the [government Eat Out to Help Out, external] voucher scheme has proved very popular," said David James, the owner of The Dolphin at Thorpeness in Suffolk.
He said trade was up 30-45% on this time last year, all his rooms were booked and if the sun kept shining and continued into September, he hoped it would make up for losses during the lockdown.
The pub has 40 socially distanced benches placed around its large garden and he has doubled his serving staff to 10 to meet demand.
"We've been full every day since 4 August, we've shut down the boules area to provide more benches - it's become an enormous operation," he added.
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
When the national lockdown came into effect in March, the RNLI found itself in the peculiar position of suddenly having more crew available than ever before.
But while they had lots of people available, they have not been able to gather to train.
"We are slowly now returning to an element of training," says Graeme Richardson, the RNLI's area lifesaving manager.
"And actually this evening in Clacton, our D Class lifeboat will be going out for its first exercise since lockdown."
This D Class inshore lifeboat will be used tonight for the first crew training session since lockdown began back in March
The number of callouts during lockdown did drop significantly overall. However, the RNLI in Essex did see a rise in call-outs to what the service refers to "despondent people": people reported missing or those who might pose a danger to themselves.