A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after emergency services were called to tackle a major woodland blaze on the coast.

The HM Coastguard was called at around 2pm to assist the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service to help crews access a fire at an estuary at Wells-next-the-sea.

Norfolk Police, the RNLI Wells lifeboat, and Wells and Hunstanton Coastguard Rescue Teams are attending the incident in East Hills.

Police confirmed that a man had been arrested on suspicion of arson and was being questioned.

The HM Coastguard was called at around 2pm to assist the Norfolk Fire and Rescue ServiceThe HM Coastguard was called at around 2pm to assist the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (Image: Andy Riley)

Fire crews from Holt, Wells and Fakenham are at the scene, stationed by the lifeboat station.

A local from the area who called the fire brigade, Andy Riley, was visiting the beach with his family when he saw the tree line "go up in smoke and flames".

Norfolk Police, the RNLI Wells lifeboat, and Wells and Hunstanton Coastguard Rescue Teams were called to the sceneNorfolk Police, the RNLI Wells lifeboat, and Wells and Hunstanton Coastguard Rescue Teams were called to the scene (Image: Andy Riley)

The fire took place at an estuary at Wells-next-the-seaThe fire took place at an estuary at Wells-next-the-sea (Image: Andy Riley)

"It just kept escalating," he said, "a helicopter and an aeroplane came in to scout the area, the Coastguard went out on speed boats."

"Access is extremely difficult with the strip being stranded a mile out from the town quay, there's no vehicle access and no one can reach the beach with the tide coming in."

Visiting the coast with his wife and five-year-old daughter, Mr Riley said: "I don't think anything like this has happened before, the fire is just spreading left and right into the tree line."

Police have confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of arsonPolice have confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of arson (Image: Andy Riley)

Witnesses reported seeing a big cloud of smoke and flames reaching the top of the trees Witnesses reported seeing a big cloud of smoke and flames reaching the top of the trees (Image: Andy Riley)

"There was a big cloud of smoke, the flames were reaching the top of the trees and spreading across the island", Mr Riley described, "it was burning quickly, with the wind changing directions."

"It's such a beautiful, unspoilt part of the coast, it would be devastating to lose the tree line - it would be a huge loss", Mr Riley added.

A police spokesman said: "A man aged in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of arson.

"He has been taken to King's Lynn Police Investigation Centre for questioning where he remains.

"No injuries have been reported."