Emergency action has been taken to protect an area of Lowestoft seafront after the beach was eroded so badly that the ruins of a previous sea wall were exposed.

Emergency action has been taken to protect an area of Lowestoft seafront after the beach was eroded so badly that the ruins of a previous sea wall were exposed.

At one section, next to School Road in the North Denes area, it emerged that slabs were being held up only by debris, creating a dangerous void.

A 30-tonne excavator, with a hydraulic breaker, was brought in to split the slabs and drop them flush on to the beach without the need to remove material from the site. Meanwhile, a section of beach in the area will remain closed to the public until beach levels have risen again.

In January, the EDP reported how severe and persistent winds had left many of Waveney's sea defences under threat, with sand levels becoming dangerously low.

Martin Plane, Waveney District Council's portfolio manager for the built environment, said: “We moved quickly to ensure public safety, given that the need to protect the general public will always be our overriding priority. Similar work is planned during May along the frontage south of this point. However, it is hoped this will be completed with smaller plant.”

Mr Plane reminded people that North Denes beach, south of Swimming Pool Road, was closed for now because of the dangers posed by debris from the old wall.