Terrified mum fears clifftop home could totally collapse into sea by Christmas

03 December 2023 , 11:18

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Nicola Bayless believes she could soon lose her home to coastal erosion (Image: SWNS)

A heartbroken mum fears her cliff-top home could fall into the sea by Christmas - after 26ft of land was swept away in just a month.

Nicola Bayless’s house in Happisburgh, Norfolk, is less than 50ft from the cliff after storms Babet and Ciaran ravaged the coast in the autumn. She worries her family's £375,000 three-bedroom property may be gone by the end of December as the village teeters on the edge.

Nicola, 48, said: “We haven't even got into winter but we’ve lost that much we could be forced to leave in the spring or even before Christmas. It’s frightening.”

The coast is visibly eroding away near Happisburgh, Norfolk (SWNS / James Linsell-Clark)

Her parents, Anita and Arthur Richmond, bought Beacon House in 2001 when it was over 670ft away from the cliff edge. They knew the property would not be around forever as the government decided not to upgrade local sea defences.

Nicola's home sits right on the clifftop (SWNS / James Linsell-Clark)

But since then the sea has carved out huge swathes of the “cream cheese-like” coastline, forcing dozens of locals to abandon their homes. And Nicola, who moved into the property seven years ago, now fears her 'worthless' home could become uninhabitable in just a few months.

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The nurse said: “It’s heartbreaking and it’s frightening if you let it take over your mind, it can get you down mentally. I’m not choosing to go and find somewhere new, it’s something I’m being forced to do.

Nicola Bayless' house is just 50 feet from the cliff edge now (SWNS / James Linsell-Clark)

"I would stay here forever, but I’m not going to put myself at risk. It’s climate change and the weather getting worse - that’s all I can put it down to.”

Martin Fricker