Guest house teeters on the edge

Happisburgh coast has been one of the most badly hit in the east

A tea shop-cum-guest house is set to close after 25 years because it is being washed away by the sea.

The owners of Cliff House in Happisburgh, Norfolk, say this summer will be their last season because of the rate of coastal erosion.

Diana Wrightson, who runs the business with her friend Jill Morris, said there is less than 20 metres of land between the back door and the cliff.

"There's less than 20 metres between us and the cliff edge," said Ms Wrightson.

'Borrowed time'

"I think it almost certainly will be our last summer.

"We should be all right for the rest of the summer but by late August, we usually start getting anxious and I can't see us being here next year.

"We've known really since about 2002 that this was coming. So some extent we're living on borrowed time.

"But we're determined to stay open as long as we can - and the sea views are getting better and better," she added.

The Happisburgh coastline has been one of the most badly hit in the east of England and several properties have already been abandoned.

Large chunks of the sandy cliffs are now regularly falling into the sea.