Essex: Flooding Hits South Of County

25 August 2013, 06:00 | Updated: 25 August 2013, 06:18

Motorists in Essex are being urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary after heavy rain caused a number of roads to be flooded.

Shops along Southend seafront were consumed as water spewed over Cliff Gardens and in Billericay fire crews had to pump around half a metre of rainfall out of Waitrose in the High Street.

There is a warning to motorists not to try and drive through floodwater with roads like the A127 at Rayleigh Weir completely impassable.

Supt Darrin Tomkins of Essex Police has also urged people to check on elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

He said: "Please check on those who may live alone and may be more vulnerable in this kind of weather.

"Do not travel through standing water as you may not be able to tell how deep it is. That goes for motorists as well as those on foot as there could be disturbed manhole covers underneath the water which may prove hazardous."

Just two feet of water is enough to float a car and six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars; this depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "It is important that when faced with water drivers exercise a little common sense. If they can they should find an alternative route. If there is no way round they should park safely and get out to check the depth of the water before they drive into it.

"Just driving into water and hoping for the best is not an option, by the time you find out the water is too deep you are already trapped."

The service said it also had too many calls yesterday to note individual incidents.

The worst hit areas in Essex are Southend, Canvey, Maldon, Burnham, Battlesbridge and Benfleet. 

The Environment Agency has two flood warnings remaining in place this morning for the River Crouch up to Noak Bridge.

The other is for the River Roach, Prittle Brook and Eastwood Brook in Southend.