MOTORISTS who tried to drive through knee-high water had to be rescued by firefighters.

Crews were called to the Strood at Mersea at high tide on Sunday, shortly before 1pm.

They discovered 16 people were stick in five vehicles - four cars and a bus - in the rising water.

Crews, including one wading team, evacuated the people in the cars and directed them through the water to the bus.

The RNLI was also in attendance as a precautionary measure.

Once all affected people were on the bus the water level had started to lower and the bus drove them all away safely.

A fire crew from West Mersea, another from Brightlingsea and water rescue experts from Dovercourt attended.

Watch manager Philip Stevens from Brightlingsea Fire Station, said:"We urge everyone to take extra care when crossing The Strood or any road which is flooded.

"Driving into floodwater and hoping for the best is not a sensible option and is highly risky - by the time you find out the water is too deep you are already trapped.

"Check to make sure the road is clear, if you can't be sure, find an alternative route or wait for the water levels to drop."