PART of Colchester is 'gridlocked' after two cars broke down in flood waters on a busy street.

The two vehicles have been abandoned after breaking down in Haven Road, Colchester, this afternoon.

Police are understood to have closed part of the road and are directing drivers away from the area.

One resident said it had taken him an hour to get through the area.

He said: "There is a police car stopping anyone from going down there.

"People are stuck in their flats because the water is so high the entrance is flooded.

"It is worse than I have seen it before.

"It is complete gridlock around Recreation Road, we haven't moved in five minutes.

"It is absolute chaos and this is such a regular occurrence.

"The river has merged with the road it is so bad."

Haven Road is a notorious flooding hotspot and becomes covered with water when there is a high tide in the nearby River Colne.

Colchester MP Will Quince is forming a Hythe Taskforce, bringing together councils and councillors, utility and transport firms and representatives of the University of Essex.

The new taskforce will aim to tackle long-standing problems in the area, such as the persistent flooding in Haven Road.

Other issues, such as the crumbling quayside in Hythe Quay, on the footpath linking the Hythe and Rowhedge, and the area’s planned regeneration, are also on the taskforce’s agenda.

Read more:

Earlier this month the Gazette asked Essex Highways for a response to the flooding issue.

It said there was no update from the beginning of April when a spokesman said: “Flooding is a recurring and complex issue in Haven Road. The outfall from the drainage system to the tidal river nearby is reportedly low in the wall, potentially affected by silting.

“That may be an issue for the Environment Agency, with Colchester Council owning the river wall and fishery owners are believed to control access rights.

“Essex Highways welcomes and looks forward to further discussions with all concerned parties as we try to identify a long-term solution together.”