AS darkness fell across Stanford-le-Hope this evening residents were breathing something of a sigh of relief that things had not appeared to get much worse and floodwaters appeared to steady.

After two or three hours around midday when there was a sudden surge in the amount of water pouring into vulnerable areas – including water coming up through manholes – the afternoon saw a slow abatement.

However, it has been pointed out that the surge coincided with today's high tide at Coryton, close to where the River Hope flows into the Thames. And there is a fear that as there is another high tide due at 1.46am overnight (and it is scheduled to be over six metres, as was the tide level at midday today) the Hope could be back up to high levels again.

Meanwhile workers trapped at the Stanhope Industrial park at the end of Wharf Road were still waiting this evening for pumps to clear flooding under the railway bridge that was stepping them from getting home.

It is estimated that at least 50 per cent of the workforce at a number of premises - plus residents who live close to the Warren fishing lakes are still unable to get through the flood under the railway bridge.

And this evening a finger of blame for the flooding under the bridge has been pointed at Network rail who are reported to have released a valve which would otherwise stop water on fields adjacent to the railway pouring onto the road. Certainly the floodwater was being topped up by water cascading off the railway bridge.