East Anglia's coastline is among the most vulnerable to climate change, warns a report out today - increasing the risk to 'disadvantaged communities' from rising sea levels.

It comes as the Environment Agency and emergency services across the region prepare to join Britain's biggest-ever flood defence exercise.

The report, by influential think tank the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is one of the first to examine the social aspects of climate change as well as its physical impacts on our coastline.

It warns sea levels could rise between one and two metres by the latter half of this century, while extreme weather events like storm surges and flooding will become more common.

Researchers say that means vulnerable sections of society, such as the elderly living in coastal and low-lying areas are risk from not only flooding but financial consequences such as the increasing cost of insuring their homes.

'There's a gap in the market, no-one's really looking at these issues which is why we've launched this programme,' said the foundation's Abigail Scot Paul.

The research pinpoints Great Yarmouth as one of the most vulnerable areas of the country.

It says the town is 'an urban port community that experiences relatively high levels of unemployment'.

It adds: 'The local economy is strongly connected to the sea both through shipping activities via the redeveloping port and through tourists attracted by its coastal location and associated amenities.

'It is also home to a high proportion of elderly and retired individuals.'

The Joseph Rowntree report notes 'a poor level of awareness' among those groups about climate change and its impacts on Yarmouth.

'Many vulnerable coastal communities and their local authorities (and possibly elsewhere) may need high levels of support,' it warns. 'Including funding, from central government if they are to successfully adapt to a changing climate and reduce the risks they face.'

On Wednesday, the town will join communities across East Anglia taking part in Operation Watermark - an exercise designed to test the emergency services' response to the threat of serious flooding.

For full story, see tomorrow's EDP.