The areas most vulnerable to flooding in Epping Forest are to be identified as £1 million emergency funding to improve defences is distributed.

County highways and transportation cabinet member, Rodney Bass, said: "Essex has experienced the longest sustained period of wet weather for many years.

"I very much welcome the additional emergency support of £1 million that will go some way to alleviating the roadside flooding we are experiencing.

"Investing resources sensibly in this way also prevents future flooding.

"We are calling on each of our 12 districts to identify the five worst flooding hotspots on the road network by the end of this week so we can begin this emergency operation with their support and try to deal with 60 flooding hotspots across Essex."