DRIVERS are being urged to take extra care on the roads following significant rainfall overnight.

Flooding has caused widespread disruption across north and central Essex.

Significant rainfall left the A12 closed at Witham from about 4am this morning following an incident where a car lost control and struck the central reservation.

The road it is now open but there are still reports of very long delays for northbound traffic and queues are back to junction 21, at Witham south.

Going southbound, motorists are queued back to the Colchester bypass, between junction 28 and junction 27.

Traffic is slow moving going under the bridge at junction 29, on the A12, at the Ardleigh Crown is also affected by flooding.

Berechurch Hall Road, in Colchester, is also affected and motorists have been warned to avoid the area if possible.

To the west of Colchester, along the A120, there is flooding at the Dolphin Pub, near Bradwell and one lane has been closed, causing long delays in both directions.

The A120 is also flooded at Horsely Cross, near Manningtree.

Oak Road, in Rivenhall, is also affected, as is West Street, in Coggeshall.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A large number of roads have been affected by flooding and in some places the water is deep.

“Drivers should take care and drive within the conditions.

“The rain was heavy overnight and early this morning and there is still a lot of surface water on the roads.

"Reduce your speed in wet conditions and drive with dipped headlights so that they can been seen in surface spray that is being thrown up by other vehicles.

“If drivers are confronted by a large pool of water on the roads they should avoid trying to drive through it and seek an alternative route."

Essex Police has received more than 30 weather-related incidents since midnight.

To get in touch with your flooding stories, call Ryan Jennings on 01206 508419.