Homeowners along Britain's most eroded coastline were pictured carrying furniture, rugs and fridges across sand dunes as they rushed to salvage their belongings after being told their seaside properties may not survive Storm Goretti.

Residents in Hemsby, Norfolk, were ordered to evacuate clifftop homes after days of severe erosion left buildings teetering on the edge of collapse.

Fourteen houses on The Marrams and Fakes Road were left perilously close to the cliff edge after around 10 metres of land were lost since Friday, prompting emergency action by the council.

Among those forced to leave was 90-year-old George Mayes, who is packing up 35 years of his life after being told his home is at imminent risk of collapsing into the sea.

Mr Mayes's daughter, Vikki Ottoway, said while fighting back tears: 'In the last 24 hours I've managed to get his oil transferred and get the removals in.

'We're packing up his life here today.'

Mr Mayes, an RAF veteran, learned on Wednesday that he would have to leave the property, which is due to be demolished next week, with the council arranging short-term accommodation for him in a Travelodge.

Homeowners along Britain's most eroded coastline were pictured carrying furniture, rugs and fridges across sand dunes as they rushed to salvage their belongings after being told their seaside properties may not survive Storm Goretti

Steve Oliver, centre, helped by Simon Measures, chair of Save Hemsby Coastline, carrying items out of his home before it is demolished at Hemsby

Fourteen houses on The Marrams and Fakes Road were left perilously close to the cliff edge after around 10 metres of land were lost since Friday, January 2, prompting emergency action by the council

The evacuation is part of a wider emergency unfolding along Hemsby's coastline, where multiple homeowners have been ordered to leave properties left dangerously exposed after further cliff falls were feared during forecast strong winds and heavy rain linked to Storm Goretti.

Steve Oliver, 64, was also told he had to leave his home, which was due to be demolished on Thursday.

He said he had been in Great Yarmouth on Wednesday, January 7, speaking with members of the borough council's housing team.

When he returned home that evening, he found the electricity had been disconnected and that he had been served with a Section 78 notice which allows councils to prohibit occupation of dangerous buildings.

He stayed with a neighbour that night but said he did not know where he would live in the future.

Mr Oliver had lived in the property for nine years, having previously served nine years in the army and 25 years in the police.

'I was 55 when I moved here. I decided to leave the rat race and live on my pension,' he said.