Seaside businesses were battered by the stormy weather.

A picture shows huge waves covered Oliver's on the Beach, in Western Esplanade, Southend yesterday afternoon. 

Manager Marianne Leggett, said: “It was just relentless and we thought it was going to slow down but it kept coming.

“The windows were shaking and rattling and making a terrible noise, I’ve never known anything like it.

“Afterwards my husband said I should have called him but I didn’t think about it."

The 52-year-old added: “I thought the waves were going to come through the windows.

“Customers were sat watching it and seemed to be enjoying it!"