Seaside village evacuated amid f lood fears

A SEASIDE village was evacuated and troops were drafted in last night as stormy seas were expected to wreak flooding havoc.

Severe flood warnings were in place on the Essex coast, with the Environment Agency warning lives were in danger as 70mph winds combined with high tides.

One hundred soldiers were deployed in Lincolnshire ahead of an expected North Sea storm surge today as experts said that powerful waves could lash the coast with rocks.

There were also 40 flood warnings in place last night, meaning flooding was coming and action should be taken. Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex were said to be particularly at risk.

Last night police and fire fighters had begun the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents from the Essex village of Jaywick, which is in danger of being swamped today.

Chief Inspector Russ Cole, from Essex Police, said: ‘This decision has not been taken lightly and has been made in the best interests of all residents to ensure their safety.’ The village – only a mile from neighbouring Clacton – is officially the most deprived place in England.

Among the areas evacuated is Brooklands, a notorious estate on the seafront protected from the waves by a five-foot wall built after devastating floods swept through the community in 1953, when 35 villagers drowned. Residents will be taken to a rest centre in the nearby town of Tendring where they can stay until their homes are safe.

But some were refusing to move last night. Gary Duncan said: ‘I’ll wait and see what happens, the moment the water starts com- ing over the seawall I’m out of here.’ The severe weather is likely to reach its peak at lunchtime today and rescue teams are preparing to move people out of neighbouring towns and villages if required.

Up to 3,000 homes in low lying coastal areas on the East Coast of Britain are also said to be at risk from flooding.

Environment Agency teams yesterday moved 5,200 metres of temporary barriers and 25 pumps to depots and towns including Newcastle, Blythe, Great Yarmouth, Chelmsford, Rye and Trustthorpe and South Ferriby in Lincolnshire.