Traders are still counting the cost of the flooding.

Darren Marco, owner of Rossi's ice cream parlour in Western Esplanade, Southend, said he had to throw out his entire stock.

"There was water damage everywhere but the water got into the fridge and freezer, so we had to turn off the electricity.

"As it could not be stored at the correct temperature, the ice cream went off and had to be thrown away. There was loads of it, for the usual busy weekend trade."

Rossi's reopened on Monday with an emergency supply of ice cream.

Published Wednesday August 14, 2002

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