Coastguards say high tides increased the sea level by 5m

The Environment Agency (EA) issued flood warnings for the Norfolk coastline between the river Great Ouse and Winterton.

Some homes were evacuated in the Hunstanton area, but only localised flooding was reported.

On Monday, an EA spokesman said the damage was not as bad as expected.

There's been so much erosion that the ledge is slipping away, so you just can't stand there. We didn't expect this at all Cafe owner, Pauline Green

An evacuation centre had been set up in the Hunstanton area as a precaution but was only used by a small group of families.

About 2,000 homes across the county were without power but EDF Energy said it had worked throughout the night to restore supplies.

Although no damage to properties was reported, high tides battered the sea defence and some residents noticed an erosion in the coastline.

Coastguards in Caister said at its peak high tides had increased the sea level by about 5m.

Coastal erosion

The owner of the Beach Cafe at Winterton, Pauline Green, said her premises now lies closer to the cliff's edge.

"There's been so much erosion that the ledge is slipping away, so you just can't stand there. We didn't expect this at all," she added.

Engineers from the EA are now examining the sea defences along Norfolk's west coast for possible damage.

The EA also issued alerts of possible flooding along the coast from Shingle Street, Suffolk, to Southend, Essex. But there are no reports of serious flooding.

On Monday night there were four flood watches in place in Norfolk - on the Bure, Ant and Thurne from Hoveton to Breydon Water; on the Waveney from Ellingham to Breydon Water and on the Yare from Thorpe St Andrew to Breydon Water.