THREE men have been hailed heroes by a woman pregnant with twins after they rescued her from a stranded vehicle.

Sandra Roberts, who is five-and-a-half months pregnant, was with her husband Lee when their van cut out in knee deep water yards from their home in Wyburns Avenue, Rayleigh.

The fire brigade was called to help prevent flood water getting into homes in the street.

Firefighters said they were unable to help the woman.

Steven Brownlie, 31, and neighbours Ashley Mason and Jack Hubbard went to the couple’s rescue instead, helping push the van from the water.

Mrs Roberts, 39, said: “The van just died. They are our heroes. They were soaking wet but did so much to help.”

Steven, who helped out despite his own car being flooded, said: “We decided to push them out as they weren’t far from home. It was like a scene from the world’s end, water was everywhere.”