Council workers and emergency services could be seen wrestling with a giant orange boom on Sea Palling beach as they underwent pollution control training.

The exercise was part of the oil pollution response beach supervisors course. In a real emergency, the boom would be used to clean up oil spilled on the beach.

Richard Cook, North Norfolk District Council's civil contingency manager, said: 'An oil spill is one of the risks we have along the coast. We have to be prepared to deal with any emergency.'

The training was attended by North Norfolk District Council, Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire county councils, the fire service, Natural England and the Environment Agency. Sea Palling inshore lifeboat also gave assistance and Norfolk Civil Protection Volunteers prepared the food.