Overnight flash flooding caused havoc in a town, after water poured into a primary school, houses, basements and cellars.

Fire crews from Thaxted, Dunmow and Saffron Walden were called to Thaxted at 3am today after heavy rainfall caused a road to collapse at the junction of Weaverhead Lane.

Firefighters were called to 20 flooding incidents and two fire engines were still in the village at 7.30am to pump water out of flooded areas.

Crews also reported cars were stranded in flood water on the B184.

At around 7am, firefighters were called to flooding in three houses in Weaverhead Close.

One family stayed on the first floor while crews pumped out water.

Flood water affected the electrics and the electricity board was called to the house to isolate the power.

Firefighters led a total of five people to safety and dealt with the incident by 9.15am.

Four cellars were flooded in Watling Street, two basements were affected in Park Street and firefighters tackled a flooded boiler house at Thaxted Primary School in Bardfield Road.