Businesses and residents are preparing for possible flooding tomorrow.

Steph Valentine, owner of Topsail Charters on The Hythe, Maldon, said: “We are lifting everything off the floor.

“The barges should be fine, particularly with the wind direction, I’m not to worried about them.

“It’s more our premises down here on the quay.

“The water might come over and into our offices and workshops.”

Martin Page of Hall Road, Heybridge, which is near the River Blackwater, was reassured by the presence of the seawall but remained “quite apprehensive.”

His home is on higher ground than the rest of the estate, where there was flooding in the summer after heavy downpours.

Mr Page believed the weather forecasters and Environment Agency had to put out warnings, even if the district is not affected in reality, to avoid the backlash experienced after the infamous 1987 hurricane.

However, a staff member at the Queen's Head on The Hythe said: “There’s not really a lot we can do, just wait and see what happens."