FLOODED: Crashes and road closures across Colchester after torrential rain

Essex County Council issued a warning to drivers urging them to only travel when “absolutely necessary” with large puddles on many major roads making conditions dangerous.

The Ipswich-bound A12 from junction 29 at the Ardleigh Interchange has been closed.

The Ardleigh Interchange roundabout between the A12 and the A120 was shut but has now re-opened.

The Ardleigh Reservoir has burst its banks and the nearby slip-road by the Crown pub is flooded.

A car has got stuck in the water.

Drivers are not able to get to Ipswich on the A12 and there is a lot of water under Ardleigh Interchange bridge.

A lorry crashed on the London-bound stretch prior to the Ardleigh Interchange at around 11.15am and the crash has now been cleared.

Traffic is queuing on the A133 westbound towards the A12.

An eyewitness said: "Cars were floating. One had hit a tree and others no longer had their wheels on the road."

Police arrived at the scene at about 8.30am.

The traffic lights at the crossroads of Wimpole Road/Barrack Street/Brook Street have been out of action since early this morning.

Haven Road is underwater for the second time in a month. The road is closed.

The eastbound A120 is blocked while police try to clear the drains.

Traffic is queuing back to Ardleigh.

Ipswich Road is stationary northbound because of the Ardleigh Interchange closure.

Train services are facing disruption until 4pm after flooding on the line between London Liverpool Street and Norwich.

There will be one train an hour from Clacton to to Shenfield.

On the hour between Norwich and Shenfield, a shuttle service will operate on the Braintree branch.

A shuttle service will operated on the Harwich branch. Click here for updates.

In Colchester, Traffic is gridlocked on Old Heath Road due floods at the Hythe and First's 61 service has been cancelled.

Monkwick Infant School and Nursery in School Road Colchester has been forced to close due to water flooding into the electrics.

Traffic along North Station Road and Cowdray Avenue is struggling with the downpour, as are drivers in Mersea Road and Maldon Road.

Cowdray Avenue is flooded between Pill Box Walk and Meander Mews.

Firefighters have responded to hundreds of calls already.

A spokesman for the fire service said: "The service is still receiving a deluge of calls to flooding incidents following the heavy rain last night.

"Crews and officers will only attend flooding incidents where there is a risk to life and will not ordinarily attend incidents only affecting property.

"Householders are advised to make sure family members are safe before attempting to salvage household items."

More information is available online via the Environment Agency and the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/prepare-for-a-flood/get-help-during-a-flood.

Gazette photographer Steve Brading is travelling with his dash-cam.

Send us pictures of your flooding hotspots or locations to emma.hobley@nqe.com