Britain's east coast was battered by the worst storm in 60 years yesterday, leaving two people dead, thousands of homes evacuated and tens of thousands without electricity.

A tidal surge in the North Sea was caused by a North Atlantic storm which swept south, hitting Scotland then moving down the east coast of England, where devastated residents watched their cliff-top homes disappear into the sea.

In Hemsby, Norfolk, five bungalows fell into the water as it eroded the cliff below.

Firefighters' leaders called for an end to cuts to emergency services, which were active through Thursday night and Friday morning.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) also reiterated demands for a national plan to co-ordinate emergency services.

A lorry driver died when his vehicle was blown onto two cars on the A801 near Bathgate in West Lothian in Scotland. Four others were injured in the incident.

There was widespread disruption to travel with Scotland under "virtual shutdown."

Across the country thousands were evacuated from their homes and spent Thursday night in schools and community centres.

In Boston, Lincolnshire, more than 250 people were taken to evacuation centres and 200 were reported to be at a centre in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

Military personnel from Colchester Garrison in Essex were called out to help emergency services in Maldon.

In some areas, including Norfolk, flood waters were reported to be higher than in the great storm of 1953 which claimed thousands of lives.

FBU said it was "a travesty" that many of the crews and appliances involved in rescue operations during the storm face the axe.

The union's general secretary Matt Wrack said: "We have already seen the loss of 3,600 firefighter jobs since the 2010 general election.

"If the planned cuts continue the firefighters will be less and less able to safely and professionally respond to challenges like the storms and floods."

Further high tides were expected last night and emergency services warned that while flood waters had receded, the danger was not over.