‘You could see bones’: Families’ anguish over coastal erosion threat to Norfolk graves

Frank Mason at St Mary the Virgin churchyard in Happisburgh, beside the grave of his parents, which is under threat from coastal erosion. Photograph: Joshua Bright/The Guardian

Families of people buried in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion say indecision over how to tackle the problem is causing them avoidable anguish about the final resting places of their loved ones.

North Norfolk district council (NNDC) has identified three church graveyards in the villages of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being at risk of being engulfed by the sea in the coming decades.