The Norfolk coast appears to be escaping the worst of the predicted flooding this evening.

Eastern Daily Press: The flood barrier was put in place at Wells on Thursday night (February 1) as the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area.Photo: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextseaThe flood barrier was put in place at Wells on Thursday night (February 1) as the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area.Photo: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextsea (Image: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextsea)

The Environment Agency had issued flood warnings - meaning flooding is expected immediate action required - at Wells Quay as well as Salthouse and Cley.

The authority also put flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible be prepared - in place along many other parts of the Norfolk coast.

At Wells the flood barrier was closed as the town was braced for a higher than normal tide but the situation was fortunately not as bad as predicted.

Marie Strong, who coordinates the volunteer flood wardens at Wells with her husband Mike, said: 'We were very pleased that the tide came in a little less than predicted and the winds were kind to us.

Eastern Daily Press: The flood barrier was put in place at Wells on Thursday night (February 1) as the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area.Photo: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextseaThe flood barrier was put in place at Wells on Thursday night (February 1) as the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area.Photo: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextsea (Image: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextsea)

'It was fairly low key and we were very relieved.

'It was a good evening to have the flood wardens out there testing the radios and the Environment Agency was very pleased to see us here.'

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service also sent firefighters to Wells and Cley as a precaution but the fire crews' services were not required.

Robert Smith, harbour master at Wells, tweeted that there had been no dramas but that people should also be aware of tomorrow morning's tide.

Eastern Daily Press: The flood barrier was put in place at Wells on Thursday night (February 1) as the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area.Photo: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextseaThe flood barrier was put in place at Wells on Thursday night (February 1) as the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the area.Photo: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextsea (Image: Robert Smith/@hmwellsnextsea)

He tweeted from his @hmwellsnextsea Twitter account: 'High water peaked with no dramas at #Portofwells just need to do it all again AM tide tomorrow, then worst should be over for these spring tides. Fingers crossed!'

At Hunstanton, where a flood alert had been put in place, there were big waves this evening with spray going over the sea wall onto the promenade.

Meanwhile over on the east coast at Hemsby, Ian Brennan, chairman of the Save Hemsby's Coastline Group, said the high tide had caused more sand to be lost from the dunes.

'The wind was in the right direction but not strong enough to slow the waves down and the waves were hitting the dunes and were really quite big,' he said, adding that it looked like some chestnut paling had been washed out to sea but that it would be hard to assess the extent of the damage until this morning.

For more details of current flood warnings and alerts, visit www.flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings