Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coast battered by high winds

Coastal communities are braced for more high winds, cliff falls and flooding overnight after a storm surge gave them a battering on Tuesday morning.

Several flood warnings are in force around the coast in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex and for tidal rivers.

Winterton, a few miles north of Great Yarmouth, suffered a cliff fall that took away about 10ft (3m) of land.

The sea at Cromer washed over the pier and sea wall, but so far most places have escaped serious damage.

"We've been very lucky there's no damage here," Sarah Butikofer, leader of North Norfolk District Council, said as she visited Cromer.

"The most important thing with these surges is that there's no incursions to people's homes or businesses."

A solitary waste truck travels along the sea front at Cromer hitting the swell as dawn breaks

But she was concerned about the high tide and strong northerly winds expected on Tuesday night.

Floods also affected Walcott, near Bacton in Norfolk, where police closed the road and turned traffic back for public safety.

On Tuesday lunchtime, the Environment Agency said: "The risk of the surge has passed but there will still be strong winds affecting this evening's tide, generating large waves.

"We expect to update the existing flood alert for the Suffolk coast at Southwold for this evening's tide.

"Continue to take care on waterside roads and footpaths. We will continue to monitor levels closely."