A high tide and stormy weather this week has caused damage and coastal erosion as waves battered Waveney's coastline.

A large section of cliff at Covehithe has slipped as a result of the wild conditions and it is a similar story for the rest of the Benacre Estate's coastline.

Estate manager Edward Vere Nicoll said: 'We lose an absolute fortune every year. In the last year we will have lost 26 to 27 acres and at £8,000 an acre that is massive.

'Most of the bad erosion from what we own, which is 6.5km between Southwold and Kessingland, is all because of storm damage, surges and high tides. In normal conditions the erosion is not too bad.

'It is really frightening and the issue for us is that we are not allowed to do anything about it.'

Waveney District Council's coastal management team issued a warning today after a portion of Lowestoft's sea wall was damaged near to the Tides Reach cafe.

The authority said safety barriers had been put in place on the promenade and advised people to take care of debris that had fallen on to the beach nearby.

However, surfers welcomed the wild weather and were out making the most of the waves at Lowestoft today.