Lifeboat's launch ramp destroyed by Storm Darragh

A lifeboat has been left temporarily "out of service" after high tides during Storm Darragh destroyed its launch ramp.

Dan Hurd, coxswain of Hemsby Lifeboat, said parts of Norfolk's coastline had suffered further erosion at the weekend.

More than 25 homes at Hemsby, near Great Yarmouth, have been lost to the sea in the past decade.

Mr Hurd said he feared a high tide on Sunday night would cause further damage. Great Yarmouth Borough Council has said it was "monitoring the situation".

"Tonight we've got another high tide here, about half-past twelve… so we're expecting more damage," he said.

"The concern for us is the properties further along the coast."

Mr Hurd said high tides had also caused damage to the car park close to Hemsby Gap, where the lifeboat launched.

The ramp was previously destroyed in October when strong winds and heavy rain saw the ramp give way, leaving behind a 1.5m (5ft) drop.

"The ramp's being repaired constantly. It's all we seem to do at the moment," Mr Hurd added.

"It just seems ludicrous that we're getting no help."

Met Office yellow weather warnings for wind have covered most parts of Norfolk for the past five days as Storm Darragh swept across England and Wales.

The last warning expired earlier at 18:00 GMT.

Mr Hurd said concrete blocks positioned in front of the lifeboat station had protected it from the sea.

In January, the lifeboat announced it was looking for a new home "rather than wait for the inevitable".

It has been estimated that Hemsby has lost 300m of its coastline since the 1970s.

In December last year, five properties had to be demolished due to the risk of them collapsing into the sea after a section of cliff partially collapsed.

Earlier this week, with Storm Darragh looming, a spokesperson for the council said: "Unfortunately the dunes in Hemsby are vulnerable to continued erosion and, now we are in storm season, we want to provide as much warning and support as we can to those residents who might be affected in a location which is seeing the all-too-real impact of coastal erosion."

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