Coastal attractions around the area have benefited from more than £1.5m in funding which aims to boost local businesses and create scores of new jobs.

Eastern Daily Press: The Novus Centre and The Catalyst building on the Conge in Great Yarmouth.Picture: James BassThe Novus Centre and The Catalyst building on the Conge in Great Yarmouth.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2015)

The money has come from the government's Coastal Communities Fund which aims to help enhance growth in coastal areas.

North Norfolk Railway has received £497,000 to improve facilities on the railway, specifically Sheringham Station, which will benefit 90 local businesses and create 34 jobs.

North Norfolk Railway managing director Hugh Harkett, said: 'This is huge, not just for us, but for the whole of north Norfolk, it is just absolutely brilliant news.'

North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb said: 'This is fantastic news. This money will give an extra boost to staff and volunteers who do such amazing work.'

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been given £650,000 to provide business advice, training and job networking opportunities and support jobs.

Trevor Wainwright, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: 'The funding will enable the borough council to expand, in both duration and impact, its business support service, enterpriseGY.'

Suffolk Coastal District Council has received £490,000 which will help improve a section of the Suffolk Coast Path Network between Southwold and Covehithe, develop food tourism and the installation of a viewing platform at Snape Maltings and establish a film festival.

Bruce Provan, Waveney Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Economic Development and Tourism, said: 'We are particularly pleased that this award will help us to greatly improve and secure the much-loved coastal path between Southwold and Covehithe, and to work with businesses in the Waveney area to improve even more visitors' experience when they visit us.'

North Norfolk Railway

The money will be invested in the station in Sheringham to increase capacity for rising visitor numbers, as well as creating a new focal point for the town. The project will receive over £150k in additional funding from the North Norfolk Railway.

Chiefs at the heritage steam railway will start work in winter 2015 on a plan to flatten North Norfolk District Council's toilet block and Tourist Information Centre (TIC) at Sheringham Station and rebuild better facilities, plus a new shop and office, on the site and on a piece of adjoining railway-owned land.

Planning permission for the scheme has already been granted.

There are plans to use some of the money and funding raised by North Norfolk Railway to improve the maintenance depot at Weybourne and create a new footbridge in Sheringham.