A number of roads have flooded across Essex after hours of heavy rainfall.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for the area, warning that flooding is likely.

People are warned that homes and businesses may flood and that tranport routes are likely to be affected.

Tom Defty from the Essex Weather Centre said the heavy downpours should clear, with drier weather expected over the weekend although the mercury is not expected to threaten the scorching temperatures of the early summer.

He said: “It is the same area of low pressure in the North Sea going round and round and it should clear.

“What is concerning is the temperature - the 14 degrees on Wednesday is nine or ten lower than average.

“This year it felt like we skipped spring as we had a harsh winter and then a very warm start to summer.

“It has been very good weather for thunderstorms.”

There is advice on how to drive in heavy rain here.

Maldon

Maldon topped the tables for the most amount of rainfall in Essex yesterday.

As of 6.55pm, more than 1.6 inches of rain had fallen in the town.

Canvey

Several roads have flooded, including Steli Avenue, and traffic is slow moving around the island as a result.

Wickford

The underpass in High Street, Wickford, is completely flooded.

It is impassable and cars are being turned around.

There is also no pedestrian access under the bridge.

Brentwood Live:

Witham

Residents have reported that Braxted Park Road is covered with a few inches of water.

The bridge under the A12 at Rivenhall is also flooded.

Yesterday youngsters were spotted canoeing down Brook Walk in Witham.

Brentwood Live:

Colchester/North Essex

The wet weather has caused Dovercourt beach and Castle Park to be desterted.

However, the wet weather isn't bad news for everyone.

Daisy Bailey, who runs Go Bananas in the Cowdray Centre, Colchester, said the soft play area was much busier than usual.

She said: “We were expecting it to be quiet - the summer holidays are when people want to be doing outdoor activities but it has been manic.

“It has been so busy we need more room and more car parking space but we are coping well and people haven’t had to wait long.

“It has been like October half term in August.

“We don’t mind the rain.”

Here is a great pic of some ducks swimming outside a caravan in Clacton.

Brentwood Live:

CHELMSFORD