Hidden dangers beneath the surf at a Norfolk beach have been highlighted after a man was injured by a submerged spike.

Helen Walker was shocked when she saw the 'dagger like' structures protruding from the sand at Waxham beach, further up the coast to where her son in law, Paul Davenport-Randell, gashed his foot on a rusted spike – and now she is calling for the stretch of sand to be made safe.

Mr Davenport-Randell needed hospital treatment for cuts and Mrs Walker wants better signage at the beach, warning visitors of the dangers, and also more protection in place to safeguard dog walkers and families.

The 58 year old grandmother from Norwich said: 'I wasn't going out looking for them. I was just walking along because I have got a caravan down there and I was really shocked when I saw it, right up the other end of the beach.

'It was 10 times worse than what Paul cut his foot on.

'Something has got to be sorted because I don't want anyone else hurt.'

Mrs Walker, who has been a lifelong visitor to Waxham beach, was compelled to take these pictures of the twisted spikes to warn visitors

She said: 'There are signs but they're right up towards the dunes.

'If you're walking in the surf you don't actually see those.

'It's not just that; there should be some protection to take that danger away, like rocks put round them or just take them up.

'I love that beach. It's beautiful. We have been going down there all our lives.

'It needs to be sorted before something else nasty happens.'

The Environment Agency said it had been investigating since Mr Davenport-Randell's accident at the end of the summer holidays and was working to remove some of the hazardous metal – news Mrs Walker welcomed.

A spokesman added: 'We take health and safety very seriously and are looking into this matter thoroughly.

'As part of ongoing public safety work, we have already made improvements to our signage on the Happisburgh to Winterton frontage, including installing new signs on the Sea Palling reefs as well as renewing existing signs which have faded or been vandalised.

'We currently have a team working to improve the condition of existing groynes in the Horsey area, removing sections of steel which may form a hazard.'