Environment Secretary Liz Truss visited Scratby this afternoon, to see the progression of the coastal protection scheme.

Environment Secretary Liz Truss visited Scratby this afternoon, to see the progression of the coastal protection scheme.

The £600,000 project aims to delay the speed of erosion, by 1,300 gabions - rock filled cages - along a 877m stretch protecting around 135 homes.

Ms Truss, MP for South West Norfolk, was joined by Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis and local campaigners who have fought long and hard for funding at the erosion-hit stretch of beach.

She was shown the work that has been carried out on the beach since December, and which is likely to last a further 23 weeks.

Ms Truss, said: 'I met residents from Scratby last year and we spoke about the importance of needing to do work here - and I am really pleased about the work that has been carried out so far.

'We are extremely happy to have the discussions about Hemsby and see where we go from this work with Scratby and see what we can do along the Norfolk coast.'

The project is part of a six year programme for flood defences of £2.3 billion nationally.

As work is done on flood defences in Scratby, some areas in Norfolk including Ormesby St Margaret, are recovering on the back of flash floods after heavy rain yesterday.

Great Yarmouth MP, Mr Lewis, has been urging Anglian Water, to invest more drainage for the area.

Mr Lewis, said: 'The flood problems we have seen in places like Ormesby and Bradwell are totally unacceptable.

'I have been talking to Anglian Water and I know they are down in Ormesby to help with the flooding from yesterday, and I have been speaking to them to get them to support the new properties that have been built and are going to be built in these areas.'