Hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes overnight in the wake of the worst tidal surge since 1953.

The Environment Agency issued severe flood warnings late on Thursday night for Heybridge Basin, Maldon to Maylandsea and Creeksea to Battlesbridge.

Rest centres were set up at Plume School's Mill Road and Fambridge Road campuses in Maldon, where residents were offered tea, coffee and airbed for the night.

A damaged floodgate in Burnham left quayside properties in Burnham flooded.

Emergency services have been praised after firefighters, police and 50 soldiers from Colchester's 2 Para Second Battalion, Parachute Regiment, helped with evacuations.

Residents also felt Maldon District Council's emergency action plan was well executed.

See this week's MBS, out today, for a three-page flood special, including pictures and interviews with residents and emergency services.