After the storm, health warnings as clean-up begins

Thousands who were evacuated as a storm and huge tidal surge hit the UK have finally been allowed to return to their homes.

Communities are beginning to pick up the pieces after the devastating storm and tidal surge claimed two lives and caused widespread disruption on Thursday and Friday this week.

A major clean-up operation is now under way after the Environment Agency (EA) said 1,400 homes were flooded, including 300 in just one town: Boston, Lincolnshire.

Read more from Liam Dutton on next week's weather

In Suffolk, police said there was no further threat from coastal flooding but local authorities warned that people should take precautions around floodwater, including preventing children from playing in flooded areas, discarding food grown in allotments or gardens and storing rubbish out of the reach of pests.

The worst of the weather is now over, and improving conditions last night saw floods recede in many areas. The EA removed more than 200 flood warnings. There were no severe flood warnings and just one flood warning in place as of 1pm, and the emergency services have also downgraded risk levels.

Experts said the destruction could have been even worse if not for improved flood defences – around 800,000 homes were protected from the largest North Sea surge since 1953 by new measures. The Thames Barrier faced the biggest tide since it opened in 1982.

But for many, the damage is bad enough – and for others, even returning to their homes is impossible. Devastated residents in Hemsby, Norfolk, watched their cliff-top bungalows slide into the sea when the tidal surge first hit on Thursday. Five houses fell into the waves (pictured above).

Dr Paul Leinster, chief executive of the EA, said: “Our thoughts remain with those people who have been affected by flooding. People can find advice on how to recover from a flood on our website or by calling Floodline on 0845 988 1188.

“We continue to work with our partners to review the impact of flooding and to ensure that damage to flood walls and banks is repaired as soon as possible.”