Tidal wave heading for England's east coast 'threatens homes and lives'

Daily Mail Headline; says: 'Tens of thousands of householders are today preparing for some of the worst coastal floods in decades. Sea levels could rise up to 9ft this morning along part of the East Coast, putting lives at risk.

Sea defences in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft could be breached around 7am, sending a torrent of salt water into the towns. Police and fire services were last night preparing to evacuate thousands of homes. Householders were stocking up on sandbags and emergency provisions.

The Norfolk Broads, Essex and northern Kent could also be hit, and the entire coast from Immingham in Humberside to Margate in Kent has been told to be on alert.

The Environment Agency, which issued eight severe flood warnings, last night said it was "gravely concerned" about the threat. Gordon Brown called a meeting of the emergency Cabinet committee Cobra to prepare for his third major flood crisis since taking office in the summer.

The tidal surge is being caused by 50mph winds in the North Sea, an unusually high tide and an area of low pressure off the East Coast.

Simon Hughes, of the Environment Agency, said: "Great Yarmouth is very low lying and the surge is expected to hit at the same time as the high tide."

It is expected to measure almost 5ft above what is normally expected - but in the worst case, it could be more than 9ft higher.

Mr Hughes said the defences were almost 10ft high, "so it's going to be close and we are gravely concerned. The most important thing that people can do is contact the Environment Agency's Floodline to see if they will be affected. If they are, they can move valuables upstairs, move their vehicles and ensure that their neighbours are safe."

The surge has echoes of the East Coast floods of 1953, when more than 1,000 people died.

"Things are very different now," said Mr Hughes. "We have flood defences, a warning system and the emergency services are well prepared and practice for floods."

Around 8,000 homes in Great Yarmouth could be at risk, along with 1,800 in Lowestoft. Last night, locals were collecting sandbags from the council and preparing to barricade their homes.