In a statement to the House of Commons, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said police would be on standby in areas most at risk, while officials warned of "extreme danger to life and property."

"A tidal surge of up to three metres is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with peak high tides," he said, adding that the threat would peak Friday but could last for 48 hours.

"There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth" and as far as Kent, south of London.

The Environment Agency (EA) said a storm surge is expected to hit the Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex coastline from early Friday.

"We're warning people there's an extreme danger to life and property."

In anticipation of the surge the Thames Barrier, which protects London from flooding, was to be closed from 8:00 pm (2000 GMT) Thursday, to cope with water levels 1.5 metres (five feet) higher than usual, said the Environment Agency.

Six severe flood warnings are in place in the Anglian region, northeast of London, while three flood warnings were in place for the northeast English coast.

The Met Office said the storm surge would "likely" cause coastal flooding.

"A combination of north-westerly winds exceeding 50 miles per hour (80.6 kilometres an hour), low pressure and high tides could lead to severe flooding in the east of England," it said in a statement.

"The height of the surge we are expecting on Friday morning happens around once every 20 years or so. The gale force winds should ease during tomorrow," said Stewart Wortley, head of storm tide forecasting at the Met Office.

Authorities in Norway and the Netherlands also issued storm warnings and oil companies took action to protect platforms in the North Sea.

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