Which is why some of them have been irritated by remarks by a member of the taxpayer-funded team set up to help them.

Dr Sophie Day, a University of East Anglia researcher working for North Norfolk District Council's Coastwise scheme, said that some of her colleagues were going off sick because of the impact of their job on their mental health.

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Dr Sophie Day (Image: North Norfolk District Council)

She told an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs inquiry into coastal erosion: "It is not only communities on the edge who sustain mental health impacts associated with coastal erosion.

"The current situation is completely unsustainable. I have observed colleagues having to take time off sick because of the cumulative stress."

Some of those in affected communities have given her remarks short shrift.

Linda Balls, 63, a cleaner who has lived in Happisburgh, for 41 years told the Daily Mail: "It's ridiculous, any........

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