HAVOC was caused for commuters during the torrential downpours today.

The flooding caused disruption across Witham and Braintree, with queues on the A12 and problems on train lines.

The A12 London bound carriageway at Rivenhall was flooding, causing queues at Witham, and floods at junction 14 were creating queues back to Hatfield Peverel.

On the trains there was disruption for passengers travelling from Witham and Braintree.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Abellio Greater Anglia warned passengers should "not travel unless it is necessary", with cancellations and delays of up to 90 minutes.

A number of services into London from Witham were also cancelled.

Nathalie Rose, from Cressing, ended up turning back home at Shenfield.

She said: "It was a waste of time, I spent over three hours trying to get to work.

"I got as far as Shenfield but trains were being turned round so I ended up back at home."

Essex County Council warned motorists not to travel unless their journeys were absolutely necessary.

Firefighters had also dealt with some 200 flood and weather related calls since midnight on Wednesday night.

Lou Ashman, from Southcote Road in Witham, said she had a very wet walk along Church Street with her children.

Harvey, 9, and Harrison, 7, were on their way to Templars Academy in Cressing Road.

She said: "I have contacted the highways on several occasions to report this and how over grown this path is, they need to bear in mind it is used by school children.

"My boys got soaked this morning, I will be reporting it again and hope something is done.

"The boys don't mind the rain though, we had our dog too who loved the puddles."

Braintree and Witham Times: