UK storm and tidal surge: East coast towns begin clean up

The tidal surge hit many parts of eastern England, including Cleethorpes

A clean up operation is under way on the east coast of England after widespread flooding following the worst tidal surge for 60 years.

The surge led to thousands abandoning their homes, although officials hailed improved flood defences.

Seven cliff-top homes collapsed in Hemsby, Norfolk, where a lifeboat station was also washed into the sea.

The Environment Agency has more than 15 flood warnings in place in England but the situation is improving.

Meanwhile, two people who were killed in the storm have been named by police.

Lorry driver Robert Dellow, 54, from Lowestoft, in Suffolk, died after his vehicle overturned in West Lothian and 83-year-old John Arthur White was struck by a falling tree in Retford, Nottinghamshire.

Waves crash against the seafront at Cleethorpes earlier on Friday

Humberside fire and rescue officers check a flood-damaged car blown on to the banks of the Humber Estuary flood defence wall

In many areas the flooding provided dramatic images, such as this one taken in Faversham, Kent

Northern Powergrid released this image of flooding over north Lincolnshire, taken as its air crews checked for overhead line network damage

Flood waters have receded in many areas - and thousands of people have begun returning to their homes - but the authorities are warning that high tides could cause further damage.

Environment Secretary Mr Paterson, who earlier chaired a meeting of the government's Cobra committee to discuss the floods, said the situation was "not over".

He urged people to pay close attention to the advice from the Environment Agency (EA) and follow instructions from the police and other emergency services.

Around 1,800 homes were evacuated earlier on Friday evening in the village of Wyberton near Boston, Lincolnshire, because of fears of flooding following damage to defences.

However, Lincolnshire Police said just after 21:00 BST that high tide had passed without incident.

Seals 'missing'

Elsewhere in Norfolk - and some parts of Lincolnshire - people are beginning to return to their homes. About 1,000 properties were flooded there in total.

But the EA said 800,000 homes in England had been protected by flood defences and better forecasting had given people "vital time" to prepare.

It described the tidal surge as "the most serious" for more than 60 years but said there was "a vastly improving picture" as flood waters receded in many affected areas.

The EA said sea levels earlier peaked at 5.8m (19ft) in Hull - the highest seen by the East Yorkshire city since 1953 - and 4.7m (15ft) in Dover, Kent, the highest recorded there in more than 100 years.

It tweeted to say its "thoughts were with all those who had been flooded", and urged those affected to visit its page on how to get help.

In other developments:

• Hurricane-force winds and tidal surges killed at least five people elsewhere in Europe and caused flooding and travel disruption

• About 10,000 homes are still without electricity in Scotland as power firms work to restore supplies after Thursday's storms

• Some residents in Rhyl, north Wales, have been rehoused after streets were flooded with sea water caused by the storm surge

• Clear-up operations are under way on Teesside, where flooding caused power cuts and an evacuation, and all flood warnings have been lifted in Kent

• About 250 seal pups are thought to be missing from a breeding ground in Horsey, Norfolk, following a second tidal surge earlier

• Shoreham Airport in West Sussex is under water after the tidal surge