Pints are being poured again at an historic pub two weeks after it was flooded by the North Sea tidal surge.

The King's Arms in Westgate Street, Blakeney, was forced to close after the quay and part of the street were covered in sea water.

It has now reopened, with a limited food menu, but about 36 barrels of beer - costing £90 per barrel - kept in the cellar had to be thrown away after the underground space flooded.

Water even reached people's knees in the bar area and ruined the kitchen, which is currently being replaced.

Marjorie Davies, landlady at the pub which dates back to 1760, said: 'The staff have done wonders. Most of the bar area is made of wood and tiles and we didn't have any mess brought in so we are lucky. We lost out on a lot of money by being closed but it cannot be helped,'

The Environment Agency is repairing defences in the Blakeney and Cley areas, and looking at how to tackle multiple breaches at Blakeney Freshes and the Salthouse shingle ridge.

Businesses along Walcott's surge-smashed seafront are working hard to get things back to normal in time for Christmas and the New Year - when the village becomes a Mecca for people wanting a bracing beach walk and a snack.

The Kingfisher cafe and chippy complex is seeking to sweep away the last of the sand and get benches back outside for snacking strollers.

Flood coordinator Pauline Porter said: 'This place gets really busy over the festive period. People get fed up with rich food and want to have a walk on the beach and some fish and chips. We are trying to make it look as normal as possible.'

Many flooded-out residents were not currently in the village, having moved into temporary accommodation - but there was a real momentum growing to seek sea defence improvements.

The parish council, where she is also chairman, was aiming to hold a public meeting soon - to update locals on post flood progress and see how to take forward a campaign for better defences, she added.