Giant Tides: water levels are not as high as originally feared

The East coast of England is this morning bracing itself for potentially life-threatening flooding although the Environment Agency said water levels are not as high as they originally feared.

Hundreds of people in the highest risk areas have been evacuated from their homes although some are opting to stay put, moving upstairs with all their valuables.

The Environment Agency has warned of “extreme danger to life and property” in coastal areas of Norfolk and Suffolk and parts of Kent and Essex, where the water is due to peak this morning.

Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk, was expected to be one of the worst hit with high water expected between 7am and 8am.

Witnesses said the River Yare was almost touching the top of road bridges and was as high as anyone could remember.

An EA spokesman said: “The levels are lower than we originally predicted but only by about 30cm or so there’s still a risk of flooding around the coast. The good news is so far we haven’t had any breaches of the flood defences although some coastal roads are flooded, but that can be down to wave action combined with gales.”

The agency’s chief executive Barbara Young added: “Although the main area of concern is in East Anglia, the area that could be affected stretches from Immingham in Humberside right down to Margate in Kent.”

Last night police and council workers were delivering sandbags to vulnerable residents.

In Great Yarmouth, people carried sand and bags however they could on the backs of bicycles, and in shopping trolleys and wheelie bins.

Described as a freak event that happens once in 200 years the last such disaster was in 1953 the highest water levels were predicted to swamp Immingham at 4.30am.

Last night the Thames Barrier and Dartford Creek were shut.

The Environment Agency last night extended its warning of possible flooding to the length of the north-eastern, eastern and South Coast of England.

FOR EMERGENCY HELP OR ADVICE CALL FLOODLINE ON: 0845 988 1188

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