The devastating impact of significant erosion along the coast has seen a beach closed off, properties left precariously perched on the edge of the dunes and an independent lifeboat off service.

A combination of high tides and strong winds on Friday night and Saturday night saw the beach at Hemsby Gap suffer "significant damage".

Eastern Daily Press: Hemsby lifeboat crew assess the damage. Picture: Mick HowesHemsby lifeboat crew assess the damage. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The overnight conditions on Saturday saw losses of up to 4ft from the dunes to the north of the Gap and a 6ft "sheer drop" at the entrance to the beach at the Gap.

Eastern Daily Press: The scale of the 'sheer drop' from the air. Picture: Luke MartinThe scale of the 'sheer drop' from the air. Picture: Luke Martin (Image: Luke Martin)

The tide peaked at 2.89 metres at 10.44am on Saturday morning (February 25) prompting the beach to be blocked off for safety reasons, with the lifeboat unable to launch.

On Saturday night, the tide reached a higher 3.8m - leading to a further foot-and-a-half of beach being lost.

Eastern Daily Press: Drone images show the severe erosion at Hemsby. Picture: Luke MartinDrone images show the severe erosion at Hemsby. Picture: Luke Martin (Image: Luke Martin)

On Sunday morning, with the "instability of the sand" near the slope to the beach still posing a danger to the community, a spokesman for Hemsby Lifeboat said: "The decision was taken to temporarily close the access point to the beach to avoid the chance of injury due to further collapse."

Eastern Daily Press: Warning signs at Hemsby. Picture: Mick HowesWarning signs at Hemsby. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

About eight crew members of the lifeboat - which is independent of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - spent more than four hours overseeing any problems during the high tides on Saturday night.

Eastern Daily Press: Erosion at Hemsby, with the blue bins having been blown down. Picture: Mick HowesErosion at Hemsby, with the blue bins having been blown down. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

The spokesman said: "About 8.30pm to 8.45pm, the sea was lapping up against the dunes and that was well before the high tide at 10.48pm.

"We were speaking with the couple of vulnerable people in the chalets and we visited them three or four times to make sure they were okay, which they were.

Eastern Daily Press: The 'sheer drop' at Hemsby. Picture: Mick HowesThe 'sheer drop' at Hemsby. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"There is probably about an 8ft sheer drop now."

Last year, the lifeboat crew appealed for further sea defence materials after storms washed away its access ramp to the beach - leaving a sheer drop of 5ft.

Eastern Daily Press: Daniel Hurd assesses the damage. Picture: Mick HowesDaniel Hurd assesses the damage. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Daniel Hurd, the coxswain at Hemsby Lifeboat, said: "This is worse than last year.

"We spent £7,000 last year, but it will be double that now - and we can do no more."

Eastern Daily Press: Drone images show the severe erosion at Hemsby. Picture: Luke MartinDrone images show the severe erosion at Hemsby. Picture: Luke Martin (Image: Luke Martin)

Amid the risk that homes could fall into the sea, Mr Hurd said the lifeboat crew has been liaising regularly with two property owners in The Marrams that have been most affected.

Eastern Daily Press: Drone images show the severe erosion at Hemsby. Picture: Luke MartinDrone images show the severe erosion at Hemsby. Picture: Luke Martin (Image: Luke Martin)

"We have been in constant touch with the property owners as we're at the heart of the community," he said.

With a woman in one of the properties leaving and emptying her home, the second household was staying to monitor the situation - with the rear of one of the two bungalows just 1ft from the cliff edge.

Eastern Daily Press: Daniel Hurd and Hemsby lifeboat crew and residents assess the damage. Picture: Mick HowesDaniel Hurd and Hemsby lifeboat crew and residents assess the damage. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Mr Hurd said: "We went to the properties with the crew and saw their faces knowing they could lose their homes - its heartbreaking.

"But this should not be like this given all the years we have been banging on about sea defences."

Eastern Daily Press: Hemsby beach. Picture: Mick HowesHemsby beach. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

With the independent lifeboat now off service for any sea call-outs, the urgency of the latest erosion has sparked tourism fears for the summer time

"It's devastating for us," Mr Hurd said.

"In 2013 we lost the old lifeboat shed and were told it would be a one off - a one in 60-year storm surge.

Eastern Daily Press: Hemsby beach. Picture: Mick HowesHemsby beach. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"But a few years later we lost 13 properties which fell from the clifftop in The Marrams in 2018.

"It has then been every year since then.

"We need something not in a few years time - but now!"

On Saturday, a "very worried" resident living near the dunes on the Marrams said "about 10ft" of her garden had gone in the sea.

Eastern Daily Press: Hemsby beachHemsby beach (Image: Mick Howes)

Onlookers admitted it was "scary" and "so sad" to see the scale of the coastal erosion, with the barriers still up to deter people from going on the beach on Sunday.

Two blue bins - which were at the top of the road - had "disappeared down the dunes", while a telegraph pole - left perched at the edge of the dunes - has had to be disconnected.

Eastern Daily Press: Daniel Hurd and fisherman Kenny assess the damage at Hemsby. Picture: Mick HowesDaniel Hurd and fisherman Kenny assess the damage at Hemsby. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Kenny, a local fisherman, said: "I've been walking and fishing this beach for over 50 years and know all about the tides.

"I told them what they needed to do years and years ago, but you have all these agencies involved and you don't get anywhere.

"It is absolutely crazy."

In an Instagram post, Hemsby Beach Café - which is based near the lifeboat station - said: "The loss of material is frightening.

"I can’t remember losing so much in such a small amount of time.

"It’s so sad to see."