Disgruntled locals in Norfolk have been told their homes face being flooded by the sea after a huge shingle ridge moved.
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The five-mile long shingle ridge which protects homes and land between Heacham and Snettisham has shifted inland.
And locals have been told they could be forced to move their homes if the bank continues to move, warns the Environment Agency.
However, homeowners who live or stay beside the bank at Snettisham, near King’s Lynn are not convinced.
Some are even digging into the structure to give themselves a better sea view – prompting warnings they could weaken it and face prosecution.
Phillip Mead’s bungalow stands on the seaward side of the ridge and was devastated by the 2013 storm surge, which left his insurers with a £60,000 repair bill.
Phillip believes if there is a surge of sea water the shingle does little to stop flooding anyway.
The retired company director, 70, said: “I’ve been here 11 years and the shingle’s come up the beach since then, it’s got higher.
“I love it here, I really do. We’ve had a lot of good times here, but we’ve been flooded as well, in 1978 and 2013.”
Phillip is one of a handful of people who can live full time in their properties, because they were constructed before 1947.
He added: “The Wash is silting up, there’s weed growing out there now. I don’t really think they need to do anything to the beach.
“The tide doesn’t come up as high as it used to do, if there’s a surge nothing can stop it anyway.”
Brian Clarke, 71, who bought a caravan inside the shingle six years ago, agreed the estuary was becoming silted up.
He said: “It’s got to the point where you can see where the mud is, there used to be a gully out there but that’s gone now, it’s all gone.
“I’d like to see the beach stay as it is.”
Another caravan owner was more pragmatic about the flood risk.
He said: “I’ve got new for old insurance on mine. I’m not really bothered.”
Each spring, shingle washed south down the estuary by winter storms is loaded into lorries and taken a mile or two north to replenish defences at Heacham, where the ridge is visibly eroding.
Along the ridge, some properties have decking which butts against the ridge, while steps and pathways appear to have been dug into it.
Terry Parrish, 73, is the leader of West Norfolk Council who represents Heacham.
And he believes homeowners will have to relocate at some point eventually, but it will likely be years before that time comes.
Terry said: “The shingle ridge moving isn’t a problem at the moment. It’s been identified by the EA as a potential problem in the future.
“It’s the first line of sea defence protecting the shore and it’s beginning to get closer than it used to be
“This is partly because a few owners of the holiday homes behind it have removed some of shingle so they can enjoy a better sea view which isn’t very clever.
“The area is more vulnerable to flooding in the winter because the stormy weather blows the tide on to the shore.
“Homeowners may have to relocate at some point but we don’t know for sure.
“Tests are currently being carried out currently by the EA but it’s a complex process – elements are changing all the time.
“But he EA is taking the matter very seriously. They are set to publish an in depth report on the ridge next year.”
A spokesman for the Environment Agency, which maintains the defences, said: “In Heacham and Snettisham, the consequence of the natural evolution of the ridge is that the beach side properties are experiencing an increase in the amount of sand on their property.
“We are engaging and advising residents so that they understand the significance of the ridge and why they should not undertake any further excavation activity.
“If necessary, we will take enforcement action against property owners that damage the ridge.
“It is important that property owners refrain from digging into the ridge at all and that they approach the Environment Agency if they wish to undertake works within 16m of it.
“This will help preserve the integrity of the ridge and its ability to perform as a natural flood defence.”