A supermarket worker who was made homeless after last month's tidal surge ruined her Walcott home handed £2,000 to the EDP Norfolk and Lowestoft Flood Appeal today.

Staff at Waitrose on Cromer Road, North Walsham, donated the money to the fund, which has raised more than £150,000.

Issy List, 20, who works in the store café, said the water ruined the carpets, skirting boards and furniture in the single-storey home she shared with her parents.

The family is currently living in temporary accommodation in North Walsham.

Miss List said: 'The flooding was quite unreal. We didn't expect it to happen as it has not happened before. When we made the decision to leave the house for the Lighthouse Inn the water was up to our garden.'

She added she was devastated to see the house and surrounding destruction along the seafront the day after the high tide on December 5.

'The £2,000 donation is wonderful. The appeal is really important. A lot of people have lost everything. There has been so much generosity from the community,' Miss List said.

She added the disaster made her realise how close the Walcott community was and praised the voluntary flood wardens in the village.

It is hoped Miss List, along with her parents, will be able to move back into their three-bedroomed home in May.

Phil Wakefield, department manager of the store, said: 'We had Issy in our branch and she was particularly affected. We felt we had to do something to support the appeal. Hopefully it will do some good for people like Issy to get them back into their houses.'

The money came from the national Waitrose Community Matters fund.

North Norfolk District Council leader Tom FitzPatrick said he was impressed with the donation.

To access the fund contact your local district council offices.