A £1.2m scheme to repair Cromer Pier has been blown slightly off course by strong winds and heavy seas.

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) has been forced to extend the 68-week contract by two months because divers have been unable to work on repairing the pier's legs.

Engineers from Fairport Process Equipment, which began the scheme in April 2012, had been on track to finish on time until the relentless easterly winds intervened in recent weeks, according to NNDC coastal engineer Brian Farrow.

Mr Farrow, speaking at Cromer Town Council on Monday, said: 'The easterlies and north-easterlies have scoured the beaches and brought swells in.

'They will not be able to get the divers in the water, erect the shutters and work on the legs. The council has allowed a two month extension to enable that to be done.'

He added: 'The impact on the town will be very small, but it has to be done.'

Mr Farrow also reported that consultants had been appointed for a £10m project to refurbish the groynes and sea walls and protect Cromer for the next 50 years.

He said NNDC hoped that the work would run from October to the end of March, to avoid the main tourist season, and added: 'There will be access restrictions to the promenade outside the season. We will meet with hoteliers, businesses and local residents.'