Holidaymakers are evacuated after cliff collapses into the sea… leaving chalets teetering on the brink

• Holidaymakers at Pakefield Holiday Park were told to evacuate for their safety

Holidaymakers have been evacuated from a caravan park in Suffolk after part of a road collapsed leaving trailers dangerously close to the edge.

People at Pakefield Holiday Park in Lowestoft were told to leave for their own safety after major coastal erosion caused by high tides and wind.

The coastguard said the beach at the bottom of the steps at Arbor Land had ‘mostly washed away’.

Emergency services including HM Coastguard Lowestoft and an officer from the Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service rushed to the caravan park at 9.39pm last night.

A chalet is ‘dangerously close to the edge’ following major erosion in Lowesoft, Suffolk

The holiday park was evacuated last night after part of a road collapsed near the cliff edge

Local resident Clive Crossley said he is worried they have lost 16ft in front of his home overnight

It came hours after a section of the road in front of the clifftop collapsed onto the beach.

The holiday park was evacuated over warnings that some of the caravans were ‘dangerously close’ to the cliff edge.

The coastguard said on social media last night: ‘The team were tasked tonight, along with a Fire Officer from Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, to assess the situation at Pakefield Holiday Park, Arbor Lane, as this afternoon, a section of the road in front of the clifftop caravans collapsed onto the beach below.

‘Some of the vans are now dangerously close to the edge and several people have been evacuated. The beach at the bottom of the steps at Arbor Lane, has now mostly washed away. There is now a drop onto what’s left of the beach. We have cordoned off the steps this evening. The relevant organisations have been informed.

‘Please do not use the steps at Arbor Lane until the authorities have had a chance to act. The beach there is now a dangerous place to be. Please keep well away. PLEASE DO NOT WALK ALONG THE BASE OF THE CLIFFS. Some poor quality photos are attached showing just how much beach has washed away.’

Holidaymakers at Pakefield Holiday Park, run by Park Holidays, were told to leave for their own safety

Coastguards say there has been significant damage to the Hemsby Gap area and the surrounding dunes

The coastguard said the beach at the bottom of the steps at Arbor Land had ‘mostly washed away’

Local resident Clive Crossley said he is worried they have lost 16ft in front of his home overnight.

Speaking to ITV News Agnlia, he said: ‘It is unprecedented. It is very worrying. We don’t have time. We need to be doing things immediately.’

A spokesman for East Suffolk Council said: ‘The relevant authorities are addressing the impacts, and affected areas have been cordoned off as the extent of any damage is assessed.

‘Known damage which affects ordinary access includes the steps down to the beach at Arbor Lane.

‘Therefore, people are asked to avoid the area and stay away from locations which may still be vulnerable. There may be debris and the possibility of further collapse and public safety is a priority.’

Coastguards say there has been significant damage to the Hemsby Gap area and the surrounding dunes.

It comes after a local lifeboat was unable to launch last month after six feet of coastline was lost to the sea.

Also, just up the coast in Norfolk, a road collapsed in the erosion-hit village of Hemsby.

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