Summary

  • Residents in Hemsby, Norfolk, are evacuated from their cliff-top homes amid fears they could topple into the sea

  • There are fears a road undermined by the sea could be washed away

  • Wintry weather and high tides have led to erosion on the sandy cliffs

  • Fire crews have knocked on doors, urging anybody still in the affected properties to leave

  • It is understood up to three homes are at immediate risk

  • High tide hit the coastline on Friday night

  • Video: Watch the moment a shed topples into the sea

Live Reporting

Kate Scotter, Jon Ironmonger and Laurence Cawley

  1. 'Looks like we're going to get a major hit'

    Jon Ironmonger
    BBC Look East

    The playhouse at the back of a propertyJon Ironmonger/BBC

    A children's playhouse has become the first casualty as high tide approaches.

    Daniel Hurd, the coxswain at Hemsby Lifeboat, said the playhouse, which was attached to one of three properties and photographed earlier, was "on the land a little while ago" and had now been swept into the sea.

    He said it was an ominous sign as it had not even reached high tide yet.

    "We're hoping we're not going to get a major hit here but at the moment it's looking like we are going to, the tide is already in the gap area and it's not looking too great now," he said.

  2. At the scene: Sea levels rising

    Our reporter Jon Ironmonger is at the scene. Sea levels are rising ahead of the expected high tide in about 25 minutes.

    Sea levels at Hemsby

  3. Hemsby facts

    The popular seaside resort is about 21 miles (33km) east of Norwich and less than eight miles (12km) north of Great Yarmouth.

    It is home to about 3,000 people and was once home to a Pontins holiday camp.

    The beach has been closed since 25 February because of recent erosion.

    It is understood up to three homes are currently at immediate risk.

    Map showing Hemsby

  4. In pictures: Hemsby cliff-top homes at risk of collapse

    Here is a selection of images taken by our reporters from the scene earlier today.

    One of the wooden huts that might fall into the seaAndrew Turner/BBC

    The wooden properties are getting increasingly closer to the edge

    Emergency services at the sceneAlex Dunlop/BBC

    Emergency services are working with officers from Great Yarmouth Borough Council at the scene

    One of the wooden huts at HemsbyAndrew Turner/BBC

    It is understood up to three homes are currently at immediate risk

    The cliffs at HemsbyAndrew Turner/BBC

    High tide is expected at 21:05

  5. What do we know so far?

    Homes on the cliff at HemsbyMartin Barber/BBC

    A number of residents have left their homes as they are at risk of collapse.

    The wooden properties at Hemsby are getting increasingly close to the edge.

    Fire crews have been knocking on doors, urging anybody still in the affected properties to leave their homes.

    High tide is due at 21:05 GMT, according to the Met Office, and there are fears the homes could fall into the sea.

    The emergency services are working with officers from Great Yarmouth Borough Council at the scene.

  6. Welcome to live coverage

    Good evening

    Welcome to our live coverage as fears grow that homes will fall into the sea at Hemsby.

    High tide is at 21:05 and we will be bringing you live updates as events unfold.