This evening I have been at the annual parish meeting in Hickling. Unsurprisingly given the recent proposal to wipe the village out by abandoning the sea defences, the turnout was very good.

There was overwhelming hostility to the proposals and a real sense that the village has been totally ignored by Natural England and its Government paymasters. But there was also some pretty inspiring evidence of the traditional British resolve. There was no suggestion whatsoever that the village was going to sit down and accept its fate. Instead, the village has pulled together to set up its own action group to make sure that Hickling's voice is heard in the debate about the funding of sea defences.

Hickling deserves all of our support as it prepares to stand up and take the Government on over this issue.