A coastal village said it feels "abandoned" after not seeing a penny of funding to help improve sea defences.

People in Hemsby have seen that £25m is set to be invested in sea defences along the north Norfolk coast, as their calls fall by the wayside.

Last month, and following years of campaigning, an effort to get funds to build a £15m rock berm to protect the village fell through.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Five homes were demolished at the end of 2023 after the access road to The Marrams collapsedFive homes were demolished at the end of 2023 after the access road to The Marrams collapsed (Image: Denise Bradley)

They were told Hemsby did not qualify for the Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (FDGIA) from the government - only applied to areas "where hundreds of homes are at risk."

Last week, members of Save Hemsby Coastline (SHC), Hemsby Independent Lifeboat and a former Marrams resident Kevin Jordan hand-delivered the petition demanding Hemsby's eligibility for the funding containing almost 20,000 signatures to the Prime Minister's home.

Among them was Daniel Hurd, Hemsby Independent Lifeboat coxswain, who knocked on the door of Number 10. He said: “It is a bit disappointing, we all know that the criteria needs changing, but that can only be done at government level.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Hemsby Independent Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd and helmsman Chris Batten on Downing Street Hemsby Independent Lifeboat coxswain Daniel Hurd and helmsman Chris Batten on Downing Street (Image: Hemsby Independent Lifeboat)

“Considering the money we bring in via tourism it is completely ridiculous we cannot get this funding. It feels like we have been abandoned at Hemsby and unless the criteria is changed we will continue to lose parts of the coastline here.

“You worry about the financial impact this will cause, the longer we go without funding to help tackle erosion here.”

In a statement citing why the village was not eligible for the funds, it said: “that the proposed scheme for Hemsby would only serve to slow down erosion in the area, it would not stop it entirely."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Ian Brennan, treasurer of Save Hemsby CoastlineIan Brennan, treasurer of Save Hemsby Coastline (Image: Denise Bradley)

Ian Brennan, treasurer of SHC, said: “I am happy for the people of Cromer and Mundesley as I know what they are going through.

“The disappointing part is the criteria means Hemsby is being excluded.”

“Hemsby has little to nothing to protect it against the sea. We are hoping we are heard, but we seem stuck in a loop, it would be nice to break free of it and get Hemsby moving forward.

“We have a plan, but we feel that our problems have fallen on deaf ears."