A woman has described her heartbreak after seeing the seaside chalet she owns with her sister demolished.

On Saturday, November 18, diggers arrived and knocked down the three remaining clifftop properties in Pakefield, near Lowestoft.

One of the dwellings - which were deemed unsafe last year due to coastal erosion - was owned by sisters Jacky Campling and Nicola Taggart.

Ms Campling, 66, attended the demolition over the weekend and watched as two diggers tore down her chalet.

Lowestoft Journal: Diggers tear down clifftop chalets in Pakefield which were deemed unsafe due to coastal erosion. Diggers tear down clifftop chalets in Pakefield which were deemed unsafe due to coastal erosion. (Image: Mick Howes)

"It was heartbreaking," she said. "We've had it for more than 20 years. It was my parents' place until they died."

With retirement around the corner, the sisters had been planning to spend longer periods of time in the chalet.

"It's ever so painful," Ms Campling said. "Nature is cruel. There could have been some intervention earlier on and we might not have been in this predicament.

"The government doesn't seem to want to spend money on this.

"It's going to happen more and more around the country - but it's hard when it hits."

Lowestoft Journal: Nicola Taggart, pictured, and her sister Jacky Campling owned one of the chalets in Pakefield. Nicola Taggart, pictured, and her sister Jacky Campling owned one of the chalets in Pakefield. (Image: Mick Howes)

A spokesperson for Coastal Partnership East (CPE) - the coastal management team for East Suffolk Council - said they have been working with the community in Pakefield since 2016 to explore the coastal management options.

"However, in 2019, Pakefield experienced a period of unprecedented erosion leaving four clifftop properties at immediate risk.

"We have been liaising with property owners since then regarding demolition."

Lowestoft Journal: Diggers at the demolition of three clifftop chalets in Pakefield on November 18. Diggers at the demolition of three clifftop chalets in Pakefield on November 18. (Image: Mick Howes)

In 2022, one chalet on the site was demolished and approximately 2,000 tonnes of rock were placed on the beach to try to stop further erosion.

But recent storms meant "the inevitable point of the properties being at risk of being lost to shoreline degradation has now been reached".

Lowestoft Journal: FLASHBACK: The clifftop chalets in Pakefield before they were demolished. FLASHBACK: The clifftop chalets in Pakefield before they were demolished. (Image: Mick Howes)

Ms Campling said one of her fondest memories was her dad's 80th birthday which the family celebrated in 2014.

"It was bodies all over the floor but we had a great time. It's a great memory."