HIGH winds and flooding in the wake of Storm Ciara forced council bosses to close Maldon’s Promenade Park at the weekend.

Residents from across the district took to social media to share photos of the damage they came across after winds of up to 80mph hit the UK.

One resident witnessed a fence panel caught in telephone wires.

Emma Steel, who spotted the damage, said: “We were driving to a mate’s house to deliver wedding invitations and noticed roof tiles and a second fence panel on the floor, and looked up and noticed the fence panel tangled in the phone line.

“It was more than likely because of the storm.”

Another shared a picture of a Bentley car partially submerged during high tide at Hythe Quay.

The Environment Agency had issued a flood warning for Maldon waterfront, Promenade Park and the Hythe on Sunday night.

Resident Giles Ford said: “Very high tide – everyone prepared well for it except the owner of the £100k Bentley who’s now stuck in place!

“I think it was a combination of the spring tide and a tidal flow.”

A fire crew attended an incident involving loose roofing on a building near Club Woodham, at South Woodham Ferrers, on Monday. An Essex County Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Firefighters were called to Reeves Way at 7.44am. On arrival, crews reported that a 4m fascia was loose on a building and worked to make the scene safe by 9.06am.”

Other incidents included a fallen tree by the Southminster Park entrance, broken roof tiles in a road by Greenwood Surgery and D’Arcy Road in Tiptree being closed because of a fallen tree.

Maldon District Council also reported a lamp-post was broken near Morrisons.

A council spokesman said: “Council staff dealt with a number of issues over the weekend and worked with our colleagues at Essex County Council to report a number of fallen trees.

“We would like to thank everyone for their understanding when we had to close the Promenade Park on Sunday in the interests of public safety, due to the wind warning and again on Monday due to the flood warning.”