MALDON suffered the highest levels of rainfall during a day of downpours in Essex this week.

Torrential rain battered the majority of Essex on Wednesday with numerous incidents of flash floods, stranded residents and blocked drains.

Fire fighters helped many residents throughout Braintree, Witham, Colchester and across South Essex, but it was Maldon that received the most rainfall.

By 6.55pm on Wednesday, the Essex Weather Centre reported Maldon had received 42.7mm, or 1.6 inches of rain, with more falling in later in the evening.

In South Woodham Ferrers, resident Arif Khan spotted a mini tornado forming above Ormsby Chine across the River Crouch.

He said: “It was aboslutely amazing, never seen something quite like it.

“Several small weak ones were forming before this bigger one twisted into its obvious shape and size, it was like a conveyor belt.”

Just outside the Maldon district, the underpass in High Street, Wickford, was completely flooded. It was impassable yesterday and cars were being turned around, with no pedestrian access.

Tom Defty from the Essex Weather Centre said the heavy downpours should clear, with drier weather expected over the weekend although the mercury is not expected to threaten the scorching temperatures of the early summer.

He said: “It is the same area of low pressure in the North Sea going round and round and it should clear.

“What is concerning is the temperature - the 14 degrees on Wednesday is nine or ten lower than average.

“This year it felt like we skipped spring as we had a harsh winter and then a very warm start to summer.

“It has been very good weather for thunderstorms.”