A CAMERA glitch brought a moment of levity to a serious moment as Thurrock Nub News continued to report on flooding problems in Thurrock at the moment - but in reality the serious nature of the situation is no laughing matter.

Nub News editor Neil Speight was out and about filming in the Mardyke Valley this morning in anticipation of floodwaters once again rising and threatening local properties.

The cause of the problems, described by locals as unprecedented in more than two decades, remains a mystery. Undoubtedly a failed sluice gate at Purfleet played an initial role in the problems but, as another of our video reports shows the gate is now functioning properly and water from the Mardyke has been surging unchecked into the Thames.

But reports of flooding downstream continue, as far back as Bulphan.

We visited Whites Stables in North Stifford, where even at low tide at around 9am the waters were lapping at stable doors, prompting fears they will be flooded when the tide comes in and the sluice gate is closed.

Stables owner Kieron White was being interviewed by Mr Speight when the camera decided to play tricks and popped a Fedora and dark glasses on his head! The 'It'll be Alright on the Night moment raised a smile but doesn't mask real concern about what is happening.

Mr White said: "I've been here 21 years and yes we have had flooding before, but nothing as bad as this and nothing as long as this. It's not as if we have had huge amounts of rainfall so something must be causing the change.

"We have asked the Environment Agency to treat this seriously but they are fobbing us off. I got an email from them yesterday saying that it was our problem because we have a business in a floodplain.

"Yes we do but these stables have been here for a long time and no-one here has witnessed this level of continued high flooding before. We are not asking for miracles, we would just like to know that someone is treating it seriously. This is our livelihood, we pay our business rates and we expect a service and to be treated with a bit of respect not just pushed aside.

"We don't know what's causing this. Is it the floodgate, is it a lack of dredging, is it things like the A13 works? We don't know but something has definitely happened and it's not an act of God."

Mr Speight concluded: "Aside from my camera blooper - which who knows may actually bring this matter to more people's attention - there are serious issues here. I don't know the answer and clearly the Environment Agency doesn't know the answer. But would it hurt them to try and find the answer - or would that unearth some inconvenient truths?"