Storm Ciara: Coastguard called to submerged cars as floods hit Essex

Cars became trapped in flood water in Essex Picture: BEN SUTTON, COLCHESTER COMMUNITY GROUP (Image: Archant)

Mersea Island, Point Clear and Brightlingsea have all been badly affected by high tides and high winds, with some communities temporarily cut off due to flooding.

Mersea Island

The Strood, connecting Mersea Island with Colchester, has been closed while water covers the road.

Essex Police tweeted to say: "Police, fire and the coastguard are currently on scene at The Strood at Mersea Island.

The coastguard were called to the Strood Picture: BEN SUTTON, COLCHESTER COMMUNITY GROUP (Image: Archant)

"A number of vehicles have got stuck in flood water.

"The road is closed and will remain so until the flood waters subside.

"Everyone in the vehicles has been accounted for and we don't believe anyone has been hurt."

The coastguard have also warned drivers to stay away from the scene while they work.

Emergency services were called to pull cars from the Strood Picture: BEN SUTTON, COLCHESTER COMMUNITY GROUP (Image: Archant)

Brightlingsea

Brightlingsea's beach has seen high tides, with beach huts left half-submerged along the coast.

It appears one hut has been washed into a road nearby by the flooding. The area was covered by an amber flood warning until 1.45pm today.

Point Clear

Emergency services at the Strood Picture: BEN SUTTON, COLCHESTER COMMUNITY GROUP (Image: Archant)

Mill Dam Lake has also flooded Point Clear Road in St. Osyth, making driving to Point Clear difficult or impossible for some vehicles about 1pm today.

The road is the only way in and out of Point Clear and Point Clear Bay.

An amber flood warning was issued for the area up to 1.45pm.

Nearby Lee-over-Sands and the Bel Air chalet estate, close to Jaywick, were issued with a red flood warning, meaning a flood was expected and residents needed to be prepared to take action.

One beach hut ended up staranded in the middle of a road in Brightlingsea Picture: ROSIE BEE (Image: Archant)

High tide on the island was close to 1pm and the water level is expected to drop in the coming hours, but no time has been given for the road to reopen.

Blustery conditions are expected on Monday and Tuesday, but conditions will be nowhere near as severe as the weekend, according to Adam Dury of Weatherquest.

Wind gusts are expected to remain as high as 40mph until about midday Tuesday.

The beach huts at Brightlingsea partially submerged off the coast of Essex as a result of Storm Ciara Picture: ANT NILES (Image: Archant)

the area was under an amber flood warning, with residents told to be brepared for roads and properties to flood Picture: ANT NILES (Image: Archant)

The beach huts at Brightlingsea partially submerged off the coast of Essex as a result of Storm Ciara Picture: ANT NILES (Image: Archant)

Point Clear Road, the only road in and out of Point Clear, has flooded at Mill Dam Lake Picture: MELISSA PALMER (Image: Archant)

The coastguard are also at the scene of submerged cars on The Strood, connecting Mersea Island to Colchester Picture: JAY STAPLEY (Image: Archant)

Deep water claiming cars in Essex Picture: BEN SUTTON, COLCHESTER COMMUNITY GROUP (Image: Archant)

Submerged cars on the Strood Picture: BEN SUTTON, COLCHESTER COMMUNITY GROUP (Image: Archant)