A large gorse and bracken fire came within about 20 feet of homes in Cromer this afternoon.

Firefighters from Cromer, Sheringham, Mundesley and Holt were called to the blaze, on the site of the old Cromer Zoo, on Howard's Hill.

Eyewitness and retired firefighter Jamie Edghill, of nearby Howard's Hill Close, said the fire affected about an acre of scrubland and came within about 20 foot of a bungalow on Howard's Hill and within 20 to 30 feet of homes on Clifton Park.

Firefighters closed the road connecting the two while they dealt with the blaze, which was reported at 4.30pm.

They used hose and main jets to extinguish the fire and were still on scene damping down at about 6pm.