SEAFRONT businesses in Southend are still tallying up the hefty cost of flash flood damage and lost trade – estimated at up to £1million.

Ye Olde Chippy was left in a bad way when sewage came through its two doors. The Zinonos family are waiting for the assessors, but believe their bill may be £60,000 to £80,000. The restaurant has been closed since Saturday and may remain shut for eight weeks.

VIEW A GALLERY OF FLOOD PICTURES HERE: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/picturegalleries/

Augusta Zinonos, who is retired but helps owner George, her son, run Ye Olde Chippy, said: “We’re closed for the foreseeable future. Its contaminated with sewage. The smell is dreadful.

“Staff who were working said it was like a tsunami – within two minutes it was flooded. There was nothing they could do to stop it.”

The Falcon pub, in Marine Parade, remained closed yesterday after 4ft of water was reported to have got into the cellar and all carpets downstairs had to be ripped out.

The Happidrome amusement arcade managed to get open again yesterday, thanks to staff who helped mop up 18ins of water and sewage. Owner Martin Richardson estimated the damage there at more than £100,000.

Simon Patterson, chairman of Southend Seafront Business Association, said: “This has had a devastating effect on takings on what should be a busy, bustling August bank holiday.”

Questions are being asked about why the water couldn’t escape.

Mr Patterson said: “We need to ask why the drains couldn’t cope.

“The fire brigade said the water wouldn’t recede until the tide had gone out, but that shouldn’t be the solution in the 21st century.”