Traffic police were forced to close the A130 at two key intersections in south Essex as storm clouds broke.
With the rain pouring down quicker than firemen could pump it away, the elements won the battle - forcing the road's closure at the Carpenter's Arms, between Wickford and Runwell, and at the Sadler's Farm roundabout.
PC Steve Langdon from Rayleigh traffic unit said: "We have been lucky in that it happened on a bank holiday when the roads have been relatively quiet. Had it been a normal day it would have been pandemonium. Fire crews gave up trying to pump the water away because it was coming down faster than they could pump it."
At one stage, police were fearful Sadler's Farm would remain closed until this morning's rush hour, but those fears proved unfounded.
As the rain abated later yesterday evening, the A130 was reopened and emergency services breathed a sigh of relief with no flooding calls coming in past midnight.
Wickford roundabout at the junction of Runwell Road and the A132 was also closed after becoming flooded.
Fire crews from Hadleigh fought to contain flooding in a number of roads in Bowers Gifford including Windsor Road and Cumberland Avenue.
Published Thursday, January 2, 2003
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