Holiday caravans along the low-lying coastal strip between Hunstanton and Snettisham are being evacuated tonight as high tides threaten to flood some coastal areas.

Holiday caravans along the low-lying coastal strip between Hunstanton and Snettisham are being evacuated tonight as high tides threaten to flood some coastal areas.

The Environment Agency said the move was a precaution as the mobile homes and chalets lay between old and new flood defences, meaning the sea would quickly flood the area in the event of a breach.

West Norfolk council, which set up a rest centre at Smithdon High School, said only a handful of people were believed to be affected as most of the 3,000 or so caravans covered by the warning were empty.

EA workers, police and traffic wardens have spent the afternoon cleaning cars from King's Lynn's South Quay and helping householders along the Quay and Common Staithe Quay to put protect their homes with flood boards and sandbags.

South Quay will now be closed until at least 10pm and drivers with cars parked in these areas are asked to move them at their earliest convenience. Once the gates have been closed there will be no access to vehicles still parked in this area until after 10pm.

A running to the beach between Snettisham and Hunstanton have also now closed. They are South Beach Road at the junction with Oasis Way, Hunstanton; Beach Road at the junction with Common Lane, Snettisham; and both South Beach Road and Jubilee Road, which gives access to North Beach, in Heacham.

Police said they expected them to remain closed until at least 10pm.