A MAN returned home from holiday...to find his car submerged under 5ft of water!

John Wickham was away when the underground car park at Chapman Sands, Chalkwell, started filling up with water.

Retired John, who moved into his flat, in Chalkwell Esplanade, three years ago, said a neighbour called him to tell him the awful news.

He said: “We have all got a parking space and our own sheds down there.

“Our car was left in there and it’s now a write-off. Two other people’s cars were written off too.”

All the residents in the eight flats were affected and they scrambled to move their cars and save what they could.

Fridges, freezers, carpets and other precious belongings were left sodden as the water poured in.