A councillor is calling for people to support a seaside village’s high street amid ongoing works to build sea defences along the beach.
A £25 million government-funded project to build new sea defences at Mundesley and Cromer began earlier in Febraury.
Works got under way at Mundesley on February 5 and are due to start in Cromer around 12 weeks later.
The Mundesley scheme will cover 2km in total, with around 900m of rock defences being installed.
Both are expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete.
READ MORE: Cromer and Mundesley set for £25 million of sea defences
Wendy Fredericks, deputy leader of North Norfolk District Council, who represents Mundesley, is urging both locals and visitors to use the village’s shops as well as the beach – which will remain open during the works.
"The problem is people come to the beach and don’t realise that there’s a whole village centre with lots of lovely independent shops," Miss Fredericks said.
"The sea defence work has just started in Mundesley and has taken up much of the Beach Road car park.
"There are shops in the village that depend on locals, holidaymakers and day-trippers. They’re all independent shops.
"We're really lucky to still have a butchers, greengrocers and a clothes shop, as well as a chemist, post office, and so many craft and gift shops - which all sell local produce.
"It’s so important that we keep using those shops to keep them alive."
Miss Fredericks said locals owe it to the village's shops for their support in the community during the pandemic.
READ MORE: New road built to save coastal car park from being cut off by the sea
"The local shops have supported us through thick and thin and we need to be supporting them," she said.
"We have a lot to offer in the centre of Mundesley which we’re really proud of.
"We’d like to remind people that Mundesley’s not just a beach but a day out and somewhere you can browse through the shops and find some hidden treasures.
"Just because of the sea defence work don’t be put off.
"We just love where we live and want to share it with others."
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