HEAVY rain has flooded roads, business and homes across Colchester.

Hours of torrential rainfall has left many roads under inches of water, including Haven Road and Albany Gardens, at the Hythe.

Haven Road is now closed to traffic.

Fire crews are pumping water into the River Colne.

Traffic is building up in the area and some roads are inaccessible, including Albany Gardens.

Gazette:

  • Darren Marter sent in this picture of a Heath Road in Stanway Green.

Reports are coming in of flooding in Cowdray Avenue, the Avenue of Remembrance, Hawkins Road, East Street, Old Heath Road and Waterside Lane, where five homes have suffered flood damage.

Five fire crews attended Waterside Lane shortly after 8am and used four pumps to help alleviate the floodwater.

Butterfly Barns Nursery in Old Heath Road has been partially flooded but is still open.

One fire crew attended and used a pump to remove the water.

A tree and power cables have fallen in Coggeshall Road, Feering, and drivers are being warned to avoid the area.



The Met Office has issued a yellow warning across South East England for heavy rain and thunder until midday.

The chief forecaster said: "A thundery low over the continent will pass close to the southeast of England, bringing a band of rain with it. 

"This is likely to contain thundery elements and locally very intense rain, bringing the risk of 20 mm in the hour and more than 60 mm in a few hours."

Gazette:

  • Brian Garrity posted this picture of floodwater being pumped into the River Colne by fire crews.

Fire crews attended 13 incidents of flooding across the county this morning, including two in Colchester and incidents in Canvey, Rochford, Southend and Westcliff.

  • Click here for a full gallery of flooding pictures.