Tidal surges breech east coast barriers

The highest tides for 50 years have partially breeched barriers on the east coast and parts of Lowestoft are now experiencing flooding.

Meteorologists had calculated the high tides, and issued warnings, prompting the prime minister, Gordon Brown, to convene an emergency Cobra cabinet meeting to co-ordinate the response - with residents being evacuated to schools and other refuge centres.

Mr Brown said: "Our first priority is to ensure people are safe, that's why we are bringing in the helicopters, sand bags, the preparations that are absolutely necessary."

As tides hit in the early hours of the morning, the surge was not as large as at first feared, but bad weather and high river levels are still affecting the water table, and will prevent the sea water draining away.

Norfolk County Council spokesman Steve Riley told the Lowestoft Journal: "Our concern now is what happens once the surge subsides. Clearly there is a lot of water which is not going to clear very quickly and may still cause problems."

This latest incident comes after a summer of devastating floods, which cost the insurance industry more than £3 billion.

12/11/2007 12:02:43