THREE people had to be rescued when they became stranded at high tide.

Emergency services were called to Northey Island, on the River Blackwater, West Mersea, near Colchester just before 10pm on Saturday.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service received a report that three people inside a car were cut off from the mainland.

West Mersea RNLI Inshore Lifeboat and Bradwell Coastguard were sent to help.

However the individuals had already been rescued by the time they arrived on scene.