SOUTH Essex is just coming to terms with the torrential downpours over the bank holiday weekend.

Roads were turned into rivers across Southend, Castle Point, Billericay and Basildon as rain hammered down throughout Saturday.

Motorists suffered long delays after the A127 was closed between the Mayflower retail park, in Basildon and the Fortune of War, Rayleigh, at about 1.15pm.

Meawhile, the Rayleigh Weir underpass was shut after it became submerged, with drivers diverted via the slip road.

The A129 Southend Road, Wickford, was blocked in both directions between the Bridge Road junction and Vista Road because of surface water.

The A13 Bournes Chase, North Shoebury, flooded in both directions between Poynters Lane and the Elm Road junction.

Eastern and Western Esplanade, the Harp House roundabout and Victoria Avenue were some of the worst-hit areas in Southend, while Chalkwell Esplanade and Thorpe Avenue, Thorpe Bay, were also blocked by the flooding. Canvey was badly hit, with residents reporting extensive flooding in Eastern Esplanade, Western Esplanade and Maurice Road.

Hazardous driving conditions were reported on Billericay High Street due to severe flooding.

Firefighters from Basildon were called to pump water from the High Street between Mill Road and Potash Road after shops became submerged by half a metre of water.

Several stores, including the newly-refurbished Waitrose supermarket and Chimichanga restaurant, were evacuated while the water was drained.