A flooded road in south Essex has been closed amid a serious 28-hour weather warning for rain.

Watery Lane in Hullbridge has been closed off to drivers after flooding as a yellow Met Office weather warning for rain is in place until 6am tomorrow.

The road is closed both ways from Hullbridge Road to Beeches Road, with slow traffic in the area as a result.

The Met Office had warned that heavy rain from 2am this morning could lead to delays due to flooding on roads.

The weather experts said: “A couple of bands of rain, heavy in places, will push northwards across southern England and south Wales during Thursday and early on Friday.

“Whilst a drier interlude is likely for a time during the middle part of Thursday, many places in the warning area will see 15-25mm of rain accumulate during this period.

“However, some higher ground areas of southern England and south Wales could see as much as 35-45mm of rain.”

North and mid Essex, including Chelmsford, Braintree, and Colchester, are not included in the weather warning area.