LIFE in Suffolk's coastal towns began returning to normal today after spending nearly two days on flood alert.

and emergency services urged people to find shelter with friends or family while drivers were warned to stay away from the coast at Aldeburgh.

In Ipswich emergency teams were stood down at lunchtime after the flood threat receded.

A council spokesman said: “We are relieved that the predicted higher surge levels did not materialise but we could not afford to take any chances.

“We were ready for an emergency and have learned valuable lessons from what has been a 'real' training exercise. However, we want to reassure people that we will be watching for future tide levels.”

Army engineers from Woodbridge had been called out to provide emergency sandbag defences around the Ipswich grid substation in West End Road.

Thirty troops from 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), filled hundreds outside the substation - on the northern bank of the River Orwell - which provides electricity to almost the entire town north of river.

All roads in and out of Great Yarmouth, apart from the A47, reopened and rest centres at Lowestoft, Leiston and Beccles have closed.

Were you affected by the floods? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk