A campaigner in a village where dozens of homes are at risk of being swept into the sea said the ongoing threat was taking a huge toll on locals’ mental health.

Ian Brennan, chairman of the Save Hemsby Coastline charity, spoke as climate action group One Home revealed that an estimated £584 million of coastal homes in England could be lost to erosion by 2100.

The group released its report on the 70th anniversary of the North Sea floods, which saw 307 deaths on the east coast - including 100 in Norfolk - when a storm surge burst through coastal defences.

Mr Brennan, a retired telecoms manager, said more than 90 homes in Hemsby are at risk of being lost in the next 25 years if nothing is done.

The 63-year-old said that Save Hemsby Coastline was formed 10 years ago when several homes were lost during a storm surge, and it is pressing for sea defences.

“People here are very nervous,” he said.

“Every time there is a storm those who live within sight and sound of the sea fear it will be the one which means they lose their home. It takes a huge toll on their mental health.”

He said that 1.1 miles (1.9km) of coast is under threat at Hemsby and the group is seeking permission and funding for rock berm sea defences.

“Essentially, all we really have is a large sandcastle protecting us,” said Mr Brennan.

“It’s sand that’s blown up, captured by the marram grass, and that’s all there is protecting the front of the village.

“There used to be three rows of marrams and now you’re down to the very last one and then you’re into the village proper.”

He said an initial lowest estimate for the cost of a rock berm was given as £5m, but costs are increasing.

“My biggest fear is we’re going to reach a point where the powers that be say ‘yes you’ve got planning permission, go for it if you can raise the money’ and we’re then asking for £30m or something to do a medium-sized berm that isn’t really going to be what we need,” he said.

“We’re not doing it because we believe it’s going to make Hemsby permanently safe.

“But it will buy time to allow people to adapt their lives.

“Lots of people say ‘why are you bothering, you know you can’t stop the sea’.

“But adaptation is possible, and it’s about spending and political will.”