The A12 at Kelvedon is now open following a five-hour closure due to heavy rain over night.

Police are warning of a number of delays and asking drivers to take care.

The southbound carriage of the A12 was closed at 4am after a car struck the central reservation. One lane of the A12's northbound carriageway was also closed but the road re-opened in both directions just before 8.45am.

Officers have been called to 37 weather related incidents overnight.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "A large number of roads have been affected by flooding and in some places the water is deep.

"Drivers should take care and drive within the conditions. The rain was heavy overnight and early this morning and there is still a lot of surface water on the roads.

"Reduce your speed in wet conditions and drive with dipped headlights so that they can been seen in surface spray that is being thrown up by other vehicles.

"If drivers are confronted by a large pool of water on the roads they should avoid trying to drive through it and seek an alternative route."

The fire service have also received numerous calls overnight but said many issues they cannot help with such as a garden being flooded.

A spokesman said: "ECFRS can attend flooding incidents where water has entered someone's home or there is some element of life risk - for example if electrics are being affected. We do not deal with flooding in gardens or on the street.

ECFRS does not hold stocks of sandbags.

Please help us to help you by bearing this in mind before making an emergency call."

The Environment Agency have issued a flood alert for the River Brain between Black Notley and Witham.

There is also an alert for Bumpstead Brook from Steeple Bumpstead to New England.

A limited number of sandbags can be purchased from local authorities.

Affected roads:

Bradwell – Links Road is flooded. Police say several roads throughout Bradwell are affected by deep standing water.

A12 southbound queues back J27 (Spring Lane). Northbound queues are back to J22 (Witham north).

A120 Coggeshall Road, Bradwell – now open following earlier closure because of flooding near to the Dolphin Pub (road was closed in both directions for a time). Traffic remains slow westbound between Coggeshall and Braintree and eastbound between Coggeshall and Marks Tey.

Other roads affected by flooding:

London Road, Black Notley, between the garage and Bakers Lane, motorists advised to avoid the area, road is passable only by HGVs and larger vans.

Oak Road, Rivenhall, deep standing water.

Bulford Mill Lane, Cressing closed.

High Street, Clavering (river has burst its banks).

Station Road, White Notley closed.

Braintree Road, Terling - care advised.

Witham - Guithavon Road is flooded - police say the River Brain has burst its banks and the water level is rising on Guithavon Road.

Braintree - Queenbrough Lane in Rayne is flooded and impassable.