Orla Moore
BBC News

North Norfolk has the oldest demographic of residents in the UK - which has been highlighted as the country first emerged from lockdown.

Image source, NNDC

"During lockdown, locals used the beaches to take exercise when they could. We've been lucky having this on our doorstep," said council leader Sarah Butikofer.

"Now we have a large influx of visitors and locals have become more cautious. It's because of that demographic that they've been more worried about the virus.

"Please come and enjoy yourselves, we love having visitors, but please respect the local area.

"My biggest fear is that we will end up in lockdown again and lose our ability to share this."

Martin Barber
BBC News

I’m just walking back to the RNLI Lifeguard station on the east side of the promenade at Cromer.

This is the view over the sea wall.

The beach is busy but people seem to be respectful of each other's space.

The skies are clear and it's 24C (75F).

Martin Barber
BBC News

Lunch in Cromer means just one thing - fish and chips.

Actually, any time here can mean fish and chips, and these two places are an institution.

There’s always a debate about which is better - but both are always busy. Nice socially-distanced queues, too.

Here are Keith and Margaret Foyster tucking into the seaside favourite with their daughter Suzie Knights.

The family have taken a day off work in Norwich to come to the beach.

They said it did feel different sitting out these days - but most folk were respectful of each other, and the fish and chips were a "lovely treat".

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

The woman rescued with her children and dog from a stalled yacht off the Great Yarmouth coast has praised how the local community came to her aid.

Image source, Caister Lifeboat

Adele Millington, of London, was on board the Maximus when it started taking on water and diesel leaked into the cabin.

After alerting the coastguard, nearby divers and the independent Sea Palling and Caister lifeboats rushed to her aid.

She said the tow by Caister Lifeboat was "long, but the most comforting journey we could have had".

"They were amazing - they had amazing personalities, amazing characters. They are really special people."

Ms Millington said her family was unable to stay on their boat due to the nauseating smell of diesel, but were given an emergency place to stay in a hotel by a lifeboat member.

"We had the offer to stay in the Furzedown Hotel," she said. "He offered us a place to sleep and the most stunning breakfast I’ve ever had.

"It was midnight when we finally got ourselves together - and to be offered this space for free was amazing. We were struggling."

Engineers were due to fix the boat today, with the family planning to continue their "adventure" to Calais.

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

A woman on board a stricken yacht with her two children has spoken about their "amazing" rescue last night.

Adele Millington, 48, was sailing with her 13-year-old daughter and son, 11, from Grimsby to France to celebrate her daughter's birthday in Calais when they broke down off Great Yarmouth.

She called the coastguard when they started drifting towards rocks and taking on water.

Within five minutes a nearby group of divers, alerted by the service, reached them before two lifeboats came to their aid.

Ms Millington, from Surrey Quays, London, said: "It’s just amazing how safe you are in a matter of minutes."

They were towed to Great Yarmouth by the independent Caister Lifeboat in an operation that took almost four hours.

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

Image source, Andrew Turner

I was inspired to join the independent Caister Lifeboat, external as a volunteer in August 2009 - a few months after my mother Lorna died. She was a lifelong supporter.

The idea came while working. I’d been out on the lifeboat - not the first time - and the coxswain joked that I was on the boat more often than him!

As a BBC man it means I can't do their publicity or report on anything controversial - but I am allowed to down tools and get on the boat if there’s an emergency.

The call-out comes in the form of four text messages in quick succession, saying "Emergency - Report to Station". Your heart begins to race because you don't know what you're facing.

If you arrive at the shed first you start getting things ready, uncoupling the electrics and opening the doors - and getting into your waterproofs. The boat can't leave the shed without the approval of a launch authority, such as the coxswain, who will make sure risks are assessed.

We've been lucky this year in that it's been relatively quiet. Lockdown meant there were few activities with private pleasure craft and the beaches had been closed, plus this stretch doesn't have the same hazards as North Norfolk or the estuaries of Essex.

For me it's a privilege to be involved. We're a diverse bunch and work as a unit. The team will do everything it can to preserve life, or allow closure by retrieving a loved one who has lost their life.

Martin Barber
BBC News

Cromer cafe owner Robbie Kirtley has been speaking about getting his business back up and running after the lockdown.

Image source, Martin Barber/BBC

He's removed tables and chairs from the inside of the beachfront Rocket House Cafe, been strict on social distancing and has set up an outdoor barbecue for customers who want to eat on the beach.

Another change they have had to bring in is the NHS's coronavirus test and trace system, external, which has been "pretty easy", he said.

"Most people have been good - we’ve had the odd person who hasn’t wanted to give their details and that’s fine - they can go somewhere else," said Mr Kirtley.

"This is what it is, this is how we do it - when you come in you give your name, your number, how many people are on your table and then we seat you.

"It’s worked really well and luckily there have been no incidences of Covid here."

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

Yes, it might be very warm in Clacton today.

Despite the heat, if the crew at the town's lifeboat station gets called out they will have to wear a drysuit.

Under the drysuit, they will have to wear a thick fleece thermal layer.

On top of the drysuit, they will wear a life-jacket. Oh, and a helmet on their heads.

And they wear all this to protect them should they end up in the water.

Orla Moore
BBC News

Visitors to the North Norfolk coast should continue to stay two metres apart, but there are also extra safety measures in place, said Sarah Butikofer, leader of North Norfolk District Council.

The council is using specialist fogging machines to disinfect high contact areas "on a 21-day rota basis", offering protection from the virus on surfaces and facilities.

There are also hand sanitiser stations at regular points.

Image source, PSS

But with the high temperatures persisting, Mrs Butikofer appealed to visitors to take extra care in the water.

"Our visitors are an important part of our economy - but the sea is not some warm swimming pool - or even like the seas we're used to abroad," she said.

"The tides here are fast-moving. Please be careful."

A short while ago we heard from Cromer lifeguard Rob Riches on the dangers of the sea - and he's now been involved in carrying a girl out of the water...

Fran Heriot and family, including her daughter Halle, are visiting from Peterborough for the day.

"Halle got caught by an unexpected wave so we needed just a little help getting out of the water," said Fran.

"We love the beach, how clean it is and having a lifeguard nearby is really important to us as you’ve seen.

"We came last week for the fist time. People are really spaced out on the beach, so it feels like a really safe place to come with your family bubble."

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

"We'd be surprised if there wasn't some activity here today," says Graeme Richardson, the RNLI's area lifesaving manager from the station at Clacton.

"These days, the calm days, are actually some of the most dangerous. People assume that when the wind and when there's lots of rain those are the dangerous times, but actually on days like today, people find themselves having a false sense of security."

His advice for staying safe at the beach includes making a note of the tide times (low tide was midday in Clacton) and staying within your depth in the water.

"But most importantly if you see somebody in trouble dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard," he said.

Martin Barber
BBC News

The Cromer lifeguard team told me earlier how it always tries to keep a keen eye on youngsters with body boards as they can easily get caught up in rip tides, external.

Image source, RNLI/HM Coastguard

Rip currents can be tricky to see, but sometimes can be identified by a channel of churning, choppy water on the sea's surface.

If you're on a beach with lifeguards you can ask them for advice on how to spot one - everybody I've spoken to says you will never be able to swim against one.

However, if you do get caught in one then stay calm and don't panic.

If you're a weak swimmer float on your back - the rip will take you beyond the breaking waves.

If you're on a life-guarded beach signal for help.

A stronger swimmer could try to swim parallel to the beach into the breaking waves and walk back up the beach.

The worst thing to do in a rip is panic and try to swim against it as this will make you tired.

If you see anyone in trouble, then warn the lifeguards or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Image source, RNLI

Orla Moore
BBC News

Visitors to beaches in Norfolk have been leaving things behind "like they've been to a festival", a council leader said.

Sarah Butikofer, leader of North Norfolk District Council, says the daily clean up of beaches is covering a range of discarded items.

"We've noticed a lot more bringing their own picnics and takeaway food, as many places weren't open as lockdown first eased," Mrs Butikofer said.

"But there's been a new phenomenon - people pitching tents and having a party - then leaving everything, boards, tents behind like they've been to a festival. It's unbelievable.

"How does anyone think this is reasonable behaviour?"

Rob Riches, 20, has worked as an RNLI lifeguard for four seasons in the "really close-knit community".

"I like the responsibility, it’s quite an active job and keeps you fit and on your toes," he said.

"The water is really nice here to swim in [but it's] really easy to overestimate your ability - people get over-confident.

"You can easily spot a weak swimmer and a lot of people just push it and go too far out - people need to know their limitations.

"We do get asked a lot of it’s safe to swim but that’s something you should know yourself. If you’re unsure, just don’t go in."

Martin Barber
BBC News

The owner of a beachfront restaurant has urged people to be "sensible" as they take advantage of the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

Image source, Martin Barber/BBC

Robbie Kirtley, of Cromer's Rocket House Cafe, said it had been exceptionally busy since they reopened, with people eager to snap up the August offer.

"Everyone’s so desperate to get this half-price meal - more or less - so it’s a bit like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - there’s no virus," he said.

"Once they’re told [about anti-coronavirus restrictions] and your staff are on top of it - which mine are - they are respectful, but it’s just to start with they are desperate to get tables and this deal.

"Just trying to keep the public aware of what they need to do is the most important thing."

People needed to take responsibility for their own safety and social distancing, he added, as the virus had not "gone away".

Mr Kirtley said after pouring his "heart and soul" into the business over the last 13 years he had been pleased to return, and had been operating a successful barbecue on the promenade to make up for having to remove some inside tables.

Basildon Echo

A campaign has been launched to create a dog friendly beach on a seafront which would be open throughout the year.

Westcliff resident and dog owner Stephen Cummins has launched the Southend Dog Friendly Beach campaign , externalto allow a section of the seven miles of beach in the borough to have dogs on it for the entire year.

As things stand due to a public safety protection order in place, dogs are not allowed on any of the borough’s beaches between 1 May and 30 September.

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

Ice-cream sellers and burger vans are pulling up in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex, breaking a ban on seafront trading.

Frinton-on-Sea was developed in the late 1800s, complete with the elegant beach-top Greensward park, to help attract visitors to the select and proudly non-commercial seafront.

But district and town councillor Terry Allen says "carpet baggers" are damaging its special character and local businesses.

"People come here for the peace and tranquillity," he said.

"We get thousands of people, with their families, because all they want to enjoy is the sun, sand and sea - they don’t want to be bothered by the kids saying ‘Give me this, give me that’.

"I call them rogue traders because they shouldn’t be trading – it’s against the law."

Mr Allen said they had been moved on, but some "persistent" traders had kept flouting the local by-law, leading to the police to becoming involved.

Beach lifeguards say they have seen a rise in antisocial behaviour as lockdown restrictions ease.

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

This is RNLI Clacton's D-class inshore lifeboat. It’s the one they use to rescue people trapped under the pier, which happens a lot.

The Atlantic 85 lifeboat is used for everything other than rescuing people under the pier, including towing in boats in trouble.

It has a crew of four - the person who sits in the front is the helm and is responsible for steering, the two behind look after direction-finding and there’s a seat at the back which has no sea-going rope - they just have to sit there and hang on.

It's been launched nine times in the past 10 days.

This tractor is called "the bendy" because it has a link chassis designed by the RNLI for lifeboat use.

It can be submerged in water and still keep going and is described by the lifeboat station's Graeme Richardson as "manoeuvrable, adaptable, incredible".

Martin Barber
BBC News

The Cromer lifeguard team has been on duty since 10:00 and, so far, there have been no incidents today.

They watch the section of beach between the pier and near to the end of the east promenade.

There are about 100 people in the water, many using body boards, rather than inflatables.

Senior lifeguard Ollie Frere-Smith says there is a light on-shore wind which is causing a small swell and the sea temperature is about 17C (63F).

"The major thing we have to watch for is young kids on body boards as these are the guys most likely to get caught in a rip - which is when you have a body of water moving out to sea from a deeper section of the beach floor," said Mr Frere-Smith.

"[Rips are] often caused when there are waves or man-made structures like groynes... these are generally the more dangerous sections of the beach."