Saffron Walden Town Council has run out of sandbags – and the advice to residents concerned about flood water entering their homes is to “accumulate as many rubbish bags or carrier bags and fill them with earth”.

A number of areas in Saffron Walden have been reported as being cut off and some houses have experienced severe flooding following the heavy overnight rain.

The town council is believed to have had 200 sandbags for emergencies, but its website reads: “The Town Council understands that local businesses have run out of sand bags, as has the Town Council.

“Advice from Uttlesford District Council is to accumulate as many rubbish bags or carrier bags and fill them with earth.”

Saffron Walden County High and Newport Free Grammar School are both closed, as are Newport, Clavering, Radwinter, Henham & Ugley, Elsenham, Rickling Green, Farnham, Manuden primary schools.

Katherine Semar Infants and Friends’ School, in Saffron Walden, stayed open but have invited parents to pick up their children early if they are worried about the floods getting worse.

The statement on the Saffron Walden Town Council website adds: “As schools may be releasing children early, it is imperative that children especially are warned of approaching too close to streams that may be fast moving. We have received a number of reports that some children are ‘observing’ the streams.

“Please warn them to be alert to the dangers of this and keep well away from fast running water at all times.”