Five people have been rescued by the coastguard this morning, after high tides stranded them in an observation tower at Thornham, near Hunstanton.

The fire service was first called at 9.13pm, and sent a crew of firefighters from Hunstanton, the water rescue team from King's Lynn, and two officers.

The fire service alerted the coastguard at 9.20pm, and they dispatched the Hunstanton coastguard rescue team. Police are also on the scene.

The group that is in trouble is believed to contain five adults.

A spokesman for the coastguard said it was 'not believed to be anything that is life threatening', and a police spokesman confirmed there was 'nothing life threatening about it'.

Speaking at 10.30pm, the coastguard spokesman said the incident was not yet in hand, but the emergency services knew that the people were in a building that had been cut off from the land.

However, although the emergency services were in contact with the people by phone, it was a while before they could identify exactly which building they were in.

Speaking just after 11pm, the coastguard said they were now waiting for the high tide to ebb, and there was 'no issue with their safety'.

He said: 'At an appropriate time we will get the coastal rescue team to evacuate them from where they are.'

He added it might take another hour for the water level to fall far enough so rescuers could reach the group.

Once the tide had lowered, the group were led to safety by the coastguard at around 12.30am this morning.