Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is urging motorists to exercise a little common sense and consideration when they see water in the road.

Crews are attending multiple flooding incidents in the Saffron Walden, Newport and Stansted areas of the county with a number of roads in north-west Essex blocked and closed by flooding.

Despite the closures inconsiderate motorists are continuing to drive into the water creating waves which push water into homes near the road and in some cases trapping themselves, their passengers and their vehicles in the water.

Assistant divisional officer Dave Moore, who is on scene at flooding incidents, said: “It beggars belief, we have signs telling motorists the roads are closed and instead of stopping and finding another way around they are accelerating into the water.

“This creates a wave which pushes water from the road into people’s homes. It is both inconsiderate and stupid. There are fire crews, signs saying the road is closed and deep water in the road and that is not enough to stop people driving into water.

“All we ask is that drivers think before they drive into water.”

Just two feet of water is enough to float a car and six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars; this depth can cause loss of control or possible stalling as water is sucked into the exhaust or washes into the air intake.

When confronted with flood water the best thing to do is to find an alternative route. If there is no way round they should park safely and get out to check the depth of the water before they drive into it.