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Heatwave triggers storms and flash floods

There's a warning by Public Health England of heatwave conditions across the East of England. The hot weather has also triggered a series of spectacular thunderstorms leading to flash floods in some areas.

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"You can't live like this": Essex MP calls for action over flash floods

It's been a day of clearing up for hundreds of people after flash flooding hit the region over the weekend.

In Essex more than 200 homes were affected - while the storms and sudden downpour also caused problems for more than 60 homes in and around Norwich.

In both cases residents are calling for action to prevent a repeat.

Click below to watch a report from ITV News Anglia's Tanya Mercer

Read more: Your pictures of the weekend's storms

Norwich: Residents concerned about city's drainage system after flash floods

The flood water was more than a foot deep near Hall Road in Norwich. Credit: ITV News Anglia

People are beginning the clear-up after flash flooding caused damage across the region yesterday.

In Essex there are calls for an investigation after 200 homes were flooded on Canvey Island.

More than two inches of rain fell but at the same time the pump system that takes water out into the Thames Estuary failed because of a lightning strike.

Meanwhile, Norwich was the wettest part in the UK and several homes were flooded.

Residents want to see more done so the city can cope better with flash flooding in future.

"The last few summers, they've been fairly dry.

So, they seem to have left the drains and not serviced them, but not just in this area, it seems around the city as well.

What they are now doing is reactive.

If it was preventative, maybe it would never have flooded in the first place."

– Colin Hymers, Resident

Read more: Your pictures of the weekend's storms

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Flooding in Norwich with a month's rain in an hour

The flood water was more than a foot deep near Hall Road in Norwich on Sunday 20 July 2014. Credit: Luke Ireland

Parts of Norwich saw a month's worth of rain falling in a hour on Sunday causing flash flooding in some parts of the city. Norwich was the wettest place in the UK.

Norwich airport recorded 46 mm (1.8 inches) of rain between 3pm and 4pm which is more than normally falls in three weeks.

An unofficial reading in the Carrow Road area reported 57 mm in half an hour.

The torrential downpours were isolated with some areas in the Anglia region escaping with very little rain.

Rainfall totals between 10am and 10pm on Sunday 20 July 2014

  • 48.6 mm at Norwich airport
  • 29.4 mm in Shoeburyness, Essex
  • 23.6 mm at Monks Wood near Sawtry, Cambs
  • 13.2 mm in Wittering, Cambs
  • 5.0 mm in Cavendish, Suffolk
  • 2.8 mm in Bedford
  • 2.6 mm in Cambridge
  • 1.4 mm in Writtle, Essex
  • 0 mm in Marham, Norfolk
  • 0 mm in Northampton
  • 0 mm in Woburn, Beds

More pictures: Flash flooding in Norwich

Flood Warning issued for area north of Norwich

A Flood Warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for Spixworth Beck from, and including Horsham St Faith to Crostwick to the north of Norwich.

Flooding is expected for Beck Lane Ford at Horsham St Faith.

The Environment Agency says the general area is also covered by a Flood Alert.

"We are seeing high river levels on the Spixworth Beck due to localised heavy thunderstorms. River levels are likely to continue to rise. Over the next 12 hours the forecast is for further thunderstorms. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely, working alongside partners including the Met Office and local authorities."

– Environment Agency

Flood Warning issued in Southend

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the River Roach, Prittle Brook and Eastwood Brook at Southend in Essex

The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning for the River Roach, Prittle Brook and Eastwood Brook at Southend Credit: PA Wire

The Environment Agency says immediate action is required and that properties are expected to flood along Prittlebrook, particularly Sutton Court Drive.

There's also a warning about waterside properties in Rochford, particularly Oak Road and St Andrews Road.

Environment Agency Flood Warnings

Read more: Flash flooding in Essex and Norfolk

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Train delays in Essex after lightning strike

Lightning strikes in Essex in the hours to 4.35pm on Sunday 20 July 2014. Credit: Met Office

There are train delays of up to an hour on Greater Anglia services between Stratford and Southend Victoria in Essex due to lightning strike.

Lines in both directions are blocked and trains may be delayed by up to 60 minutes. Engineers are en route to assess the problem.

Read more: Met Office yellow weather warning for thunderstorms

Picture galley: Dramatic images of the lightning storms

Family of four left homeless by one of three lightning strikes in Essex

Three properties were struck by lightning in Essex overnight. Credit: ITV News Anglia.

A family of four has been left homeless after their house was struck by lightning during the storms overnight.

It was one of three strikes at properties in Essex as the region was battered by heavy rain and thunder.

The family's home at Keswick Avenue at Holland on Sea was hit at about 4.25am Saturday. It sparked a fire in two semi-detached bungalows.

Firefighters spent more than two hours tackling the blaze.

Earlier, three crews were called to a house at Murrell Lock, Chelmsford, where smoke had been seen pouring from the roof following another lightning strike.

It happened at about 10.45pm on Friday and spread from the roof to the first floor.

No one was hurt but crews remained on the site until just after 5am on Saturday.

And at just after 6am, Essex fire service was called to a third fire in a garage at Clacton Road in Elmstead, near Colchester, which was also thought to have been started by a lightning strike.

Firefighters worked quickly to stop the blaze spreading to the house attached to the garage.

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