Homeowners in flood-prone areas faced a bleak start to the new year.
Steve Connell choked backed tears as he revealed his family lost everything when their ground-floor flat in Merrivale, Benfleet, was flooded.
Sandbags - Steve and Winnette Connell try to protect their home from rising floodwater Picture: MAXINE CLARKE
The 31-year-old father of sons aged eight and ten and a seven-week old baby girl is being temporarily rehoused at the Oysterfleet Hotel on Canvey, along with his 27-year-old wife Winnette.
He said: "I was woken up by the man upstairs who phoned to say he could see water coming in.
"I thought I was dreaming.
"We have been baling it out but it's hopeless as it is coming in as fast as we bale it out.
"We have lost everything.
"The boys' computer games, all our electrical goods and carpets, everything."
Published Thursday, January 2, 2003
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