CHILDREN are being put at risk by flooding problems on a road near several schools, it has been claimed.

Councillor Dave Harris says the waterlogged state of School Road, in the Monkwick area of Colchester, is making it impossible for youngsters on their way to Monkwick Infant School, Monkwick Infant School and Thomas Lord Audley to safely socially distance.

The road was left covered with up to eight inches of water on Wednesday following prolonged periods of rain over the weekend and at the start of the week.

Mr Harris (Lab, Berechurch) said: "I nearly took my rubber ducks along with me as the flooding was so bad.

"But it is a serious matter because the children are using one side of the road to come into school and the other to come out to enable social distancing.

"This is drastically affecting the system and I have asked for it to be sorted as soon as possible.

"I am not entirely sure what is causing it, there is a nearby pond which locals call the swamp the condition of which appears to be deteriorating, but all I know is I cannot tolerate this situation.

"There are eight inches of water at the deepest points and you can't walk down either side of the road."

He added: "It is making it impossible for people to social distance."

Braintree and Witham Times:

Essex Highways says it has asked Anglian Water to investigate the problem as a priority as the drains under their control are in good condition and were checked and cleared in March, April and July.

A spokesman said: "This situation must be very difficult for people going to and from the school here and we hope the situation is resolved quickly.

"Our road drains carry water to the wider local drainage system managed by Anglian Water, which appears to have failed successively in very heavy rain.

"We have referred the matter to them and expect a speedy response."

Flooding problems can be reported directly online at essex.gov.uk/highways.