Canoeists take to streets of Witham as torrential downpour causes flooding for second time in a week

Mum-of-three Kath Ellis, 46, who has lived in Brook Walk for 16 years, saw flood water rise more than 2ft following a short burst of rain on Tuesday.

It was the second burst to cause problems in a fortnight, after a minibus was abandoned, raising concerns about drainage.

Mrs Ellis says it happens several times a year, leaving homes and cars damaged, and her at the end of her tether.

She said: “We live behind a brook and I understand that is going to overflow sometimes.

“But this happens every year, and several times, and no one ever does anything about it. With the weather being as it has been recently it is constantly happening.

“Cars still attempt driving through the water which cause a tidal wave and makes things worse.

“The other houses in my row have had water in their properties.”

Mrs Ellis believes the problem has been made worse following recent resurfacing work by Essex Highways.

She said: “When we had the road done they went over the drains so the water has got nowhere to go.

“You get debris from the brook going down the drains meaning they are full.”

Essex County Council denied any responsibility. A spokesman said it had no record of blocked drains and the problem may be related to the brook, which is under Anglian Water control.

The Met Office issued a yellow warning for Essex on Tuesday and Wednesday, warning of storms throughout the county.

Flooding was also reported on Tuesday afternoon at Oak Road, Rivenhall, near to the A12 slip road.

Mrs Ellis said: “We don’t live in a country where we have monsoons but it has happened two or three times every year.

“I was wearing wellies when I walked across to my car on Tuesday but the water still filled my wellies.

“ Two kids were in a canoe - it is crazy.”

A spokesman for Anglia Water said the firm is investigating along with its “drainage partners”.