But hundreds of people buried in a Norfolk churchyard - including more than 100 shipwrecked sailors in a mass grave - could be on the move once more.

Officials believe they may have to exhume remains from the grounds of Happisburgh's St Mary the Virgin church, to avoid them falling into the sea as the crumbling cliffs around them gradually give way to the waves.

St Mary's Church In Happisburgh (Image: Mike Page)

There is now just 80 metres of land between the churchyard and the retreating cliff edge.

At the current rate of coastal erosion, this means the cemetery could be lost to the sea in less than 20 years.

An aerial view of Happisburgh, taken in 2019 (Image: Mike Page)

Happisburgh's coastal erosion, taken in 2024 (Image: Oliv3r Drone Photography) To prepare for that, North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), the Diocese of Norwich and Happisburgh Parish Council have started to consider what they might do with the graves.

An aerial view of Happisburgh's St Mary's Church, which is near the cliff edge (Image: Google)

Harry Blathwayt, NNDC's cabinet member for the coast, said: "It has been brought up in Happisburgh as the graveyard is getting closer and closer to the cliff.

"We are working with the local community to identify possible solutions. We need to get ready for the future. It is not something we would wish to be surprised by."

St Mary's Church in Happisburgh (Image: Newsquest)

The authorities are working with the government-backed Coastwise scheme which aims to prepare coastal communities threatened by erosion.

It has commissioned a report to investigate the relocation of bodies from........

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