While the sea relentlessly tears away at the dunes in Hemsby, the people who live along the erosion-ravaged cliffs are still waiting for answers.

On Wednesday, October 2, another two metres of dunes by the Gap collapsed during the high tide and strong winds.

The slipway to the beach was washed away, leaving a drop of approximately five feet down to the shore and putting the village's lifeboat out of service.

Ian Brennan, of the Save Hemsby Coastline campaign group, said: "Several houses south of the Gap are looking precarious.

"People are finding it harder to get to the houses there."

More dunes at Hemsby were lost to the sea erosion on Wednesday, October 2.More dunes at Hemsby were lost to the sea erosion on Wednesday, October 2. (Image: Dan Hurd) READ MORE: Lifeboat out of service after high tide claims beach slipway

Along one part of the beach, a stretch of the dunes is protected by an 80m rock berm. Mr Brennan said the area behind that defence "held up, proving that's what we need".

For years campaigners have been pinning their hopes on a 1.3km-long rock berm.

Last year, the village was granted a licence for such a structure, but was turned down for government funding as the £15m scheme would only qualify "where hundreds of homes are at risk".

Hopes were raised in January when environment secretary Steve Reed, then the shadow secretary, visited the village and pledged a Labour government would "open the door" for funding sea defences in Hemsby.

But Mr Brennan said: "We're still waiting for the environment secretary who promised us all sorts of things but we've still had nothing. 

"It's so frustrating we're not moving forward."

Ian Brennan, of Save Hemsby Coastline.Ian Brennan, of Save Hemsby Coastline. (Image: Denise Bradley) If the problem cannot be addressed with sea defences, he said Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) and Coastal Partnership East (CPE) "need to articulate a plan for roll-back, or managed retreat from the coast, to stop people being scared".

But at the moment, as things stand, it feels like various authorities - the environment secretary, the Environment Agency, GYBC and CPE - are "waiting until people leave their homes and go".

"It feels like death by a thousand cuts for Hemsby," Mr Brennan said.

Looking ahead, he said: "The winter is only just starting but it looks like it will be another scary one.

"It looks like we'll lose more houses. It's hard to predict how bad it could get."

A GYBC spokesperson said: ''Unfortunately, the dunes in Hemsby are vulnerable to continued erosion and, as we approach the winter, we want to do all we can to help our residents who might be affected.

''The safety of our residents is our number one priority and, wherever possible, we are in dialogue with those whose homes might be at risk and will look to provide advice and support around issues such as housing and safety.

‘’Working with partners, the council continues to examine options around how our communities adapt to what is one of the most rapidly eroding coastlines in Europe," the spokesperson added.

James Bensly, who represents Hemsby on Great Yarmouth Borough Council.James Bensly, who represents Hemsby on Great Yarmouth Borough Council. (Image: Norfolk Conservatives) James Bensly, who represents Hemsby on Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said he was thankful there were no strong winds during the extremely high spring tides two weeks ago, as in that case the situation "could have been a lot worse".

He said that Hemsby stakeholders and the Crown Estate held a meeting at Great Yarmouth Town Hall on Monday, September 30 and they are "exploring all options" for a possible solution.

"Great Yarmouth Borough Council with Cllr Carl Smith and myself and the local community has taken massive steps working together to unlock funding from the Environment Agency to get a research report, the Jacobs Report, done into first finding a solution that will slow down the rate of erosion and protect lives and homes," he said.

He said they also unlocked emergency funding for the small berm currently on the beach.

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth.Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth. (Image: Supplied)

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, recently met with Emma Hardy MP, Minister for Water and Flooding.

He said she committed to him that "an urgent review of the funding criteria would be undertaken so that Hemsby can receive the protection it needs".

"I am pushing and pushing to ensure that this Labour Party is held to the promises it made during the election campaign. The time for talk is over, the people of Hemsby now need delivery," Mr Lowe said.

A total of 25 homes in Hemsby have been lost over the past 11 years due to coastal erosion.