Hemsby: Two further homes emptied amid collapse fears

The owners of two more homes in Hemsby have been asked to fetch belongings due to the threat of coastal erosion.

Debris is being removed from three other properties that were demolished over the weekend, amid fears they would fall into the sea in Norfolk.

People began leaving their chalets on The Marrams on Friday due to high tides and strong winds.

Mandy Jephcote, whose home was the last to be pulled down, said she was "in bits".

The latest homeowners have been served Section 77 notices by the council, which state their properties are at risk and asks them to collect their belongings.

Ms Jephcote, who bought her property four years ago, said she was not able to get everything out before the demolition crew moved in at the weekend.

She said her ex-husband and three daughters helped her remove some furniture, but her curtains, bed and some clothes had been left behind.

She had also lost a tin of possessions that belonged to her mum and brother who had passed away.

"I felt physically sick and I haven't really been able to stop shaking since," she said.

"I knew I couldn't get everything out the house, they didn't give me enough time."

She added: "I'm grateful for what the council has done, but I would've been more grateful if they saved my home and everyone else's home."

The council previously said it understood people's frustrations at the time it took to put in sea defences, but there had been "so much bureaucracy".

"It's a real minefield of making sure that what local government and the authorities do is the correct line of procedure," said James Bensley, who represents the area on Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

It was at Ms Jephcote's property where two chickens were rescued on Friday.

She said she had been told by officials they would take care of the birds and put them in a sanctuary.

Lorna Bevan, founder of campaign group Save Hemsby Coastline, said she was "livid" that homes had to be pulled down.

"This could have been averted, there was no need for this to have happened this weekend," she said.

"We could have at least another 20m (60ft) of beach here had people listened and had the government stepped in."

Hemsby Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd said on Monday: "We are going to carry on helping the community affected.

"There's nothing worse than losing your home. My crew has been absolutely amazing - everybody has pulled together."

About 1,900 tonnes of granite was expected to arrive on Wednesday, with Great Yarmouth Borough Council saying it was looking to protect the cliff with rock defences to save road access to a number of other properties.

The Environment Agency said it worked closely with local authorities to tackle the threat of flooding and coastal change.

It said about 2,000 new schemes were being created to manage coastal and flood risk nationally.

In Norfolk, it said it was working with the Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance to trial new schemes to support affected communities.

Seven bungalows along The Marrams had to be demolished when the sandy cliffs were washed away in March 2018 and, in December 2013, the worst storm surge in decades destroyed seven homes.

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