Work to extend the outer harbour's arms could cause noise and disruption for residents, bosses have warned.

EastPort UK hopes improvements will reduce swell and make the harbour more suitable for smaller vessels, making investment more appealing to offshore clients.

But engineers must anchor foundations to the seabed as they work to extend the arms - and piling work is set to cause noise pollution.

Jamie Frater, chief executive of the port, explained that the work is important to winning new contracts.

'The improvements will greatly benefit our customers and enable us to continue to grow in the offshore wind sector,' he said. 'In particular to service the existing projects and future projects such as East Anglia Array where we are the closest deepwater port in nautical miles.'

Great Yarmouth Port Company (GYPC) has announced that work has begun - and will complete this year - with piling for the new caisson heads to the entrance about to commence.

Caissons are the watertight foundation structures which will be installed in the seabed.

Bosses have warned that piling - scheduled for between August 21 and 31 August - will cause noise but a vibro technique will be used to minimise this.

A spokesman for GYPC added: 'If hard ground conditions in the seabed are encountered then short periods of a potentially noisier methodology may be required.

'However, this is not anticipated to be necessary as no such seabed conditions have so far been identified.'

The borough council is working with outer harbour bosses to keep noise to a minimum.

Glenn Buck, community protection manager, said: 'With marine works of this nature, some disruption is to be expected, but officers from the borough's environmental health team are working closely with the contractors to suggest ways to reduce the noise and environmental impacts of the works.'

Eliza O'Toole, deputy chairman of the port, said while there may be noise, the investment will increase the scope of the port.

'These works are targeted investment to increase the range of vessels able to efficiently use the outer harbour,' she said. 'With the evolution of vessels in this sector, we considered this investment important to increase our scope of operational capability and underline our commitment to the sector.'

For up to date details on working hours and the duration of piling activities, call the port's resident site engineer Ian Turnball on 01493 335525 or email greatyarmouth.site@cgrgroup.com

Residents can call the environmental health team on 01493 846478 or email health@great-yarmouth.gov.uk