Heavy rainfall causes flooding across Suffolk and Essex

It’s been an Easter washout across East Anglia with more than half a month’s rain falling over the bank holiday weekend.

Adam Dury, forecaster for Weatherquest, said there had been 29mm of rain come down in parts of the region since Good Friday – the monthly average at this time of year is 43mm.

There had been fears of a white Easter but Mr Dury said snow had bypassed the East of England and would only affect the north of the country and Scotland.

Today has got off to a very wet start and there are reports of localised flooding across Suffolk and Essex.

Drivers are warned to take extra care of the roads after emergency services were called to a single-vehicle crash on a flooded part of the A14 at Bury St Edmunds around 6am.

Mr Dury said the rain should clear later today, making way for a more pleasant afternoon.

He added: “There will be more persistent rain coming through at the end of the morning/early part of the afternoon, and when that clears it should be a brighter afternoon with some sunshine and temperatures up to 10C (50F) or 11C (51.8F).

“Then there’s going to be increasing cloud again this evening with further rain for at least east Suffolk and parts of eastern Essex.

“All the snow has basically gone further north, the cooler temperatures are over northern England and Scotland. The Met Office changed the warning a few days ago to only northern England over high ground.”

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts for several rivers and lakes across Suffolk.

There are more severe flood warnings in place for The Chediston watercourse at Halesworth, and The Stour Brook from Haverhill to Sturmer.

The authority has warned: “Remain vigilant and don’t put yourself in any unnecessary danger.”