A SCHOOLBOY’S birthday weekend was ruined by the relentless rain which wiped out his day trip, flooded his home and destroyed his presents.

Samuel Boslem, seven, had a day at Adventure Island, Southend, brought to an end early due to the downpour.

After mum Sadie, 31, decided to leave the fun park and drive him and brother Robert, five, home to Rochford, they got stuck in flood water under the railway bridge in Hall Road, Rochford.

The family had to wait to be towed out by a good samaritan, and when they got home they found it flooded by a foot of water.

Sadie said: “We left Adventure Island because of the rain, then ended up stuck under the bridge at 6.30pm. We were there more than an hour.

“We would have been there longer if a man had not come to our rescue and towed us.” She said the relief of being freed soon turned to misery upon their return to the cottage in Cherry Orchard Lane.

She said: “By the time we got back our home was under 12 inches of water. Everything downstairs was destroyed, the bathroom and kitchen. We were going to have Samuel’s birthday party there on Sunday, but there was no way. All his presents and all the party stuff was destroyed. He was so upset.”

The three sought refuge at Sadie’s mum’s house in Bulwark Road, Shoebury, and were still there yesterday.

She added: “I had to spend all day Sunday sorting out the cottage.”