PICTURES taken at a sluice gate on the River Thames have poured doubt over Environment Agency claims that flooding in parts of Thurrock is unavoidable.

Last week Thurrock Nub News reported on residents' continuing concerns about the flooding in the Mar Dyke Valley, which has put a local stables' future at risk.

Large swathes of land are under water, as far upstream as Bulphan, and other properties are under threat.

The blame has been pointed at a lack of dredging of the river and that the agency is not operating the sluice gate at Purfleet correctly.

Both allegations have been firmly denied by the agency which said its flood modelling predicted no problems and that "The Mar Dyke sluice is operational and effectively discharging water during the low tide period as usual."

Low tide at Purfleet - but the gates were firmly closed.

However, pictures taken at low tide show that not to be the case.

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The gates at Purfleet remained shut through low tides, meaning the heavy rainfall of last week will remain backed up in the river.

Tracey White from Whites Stables at North Stifford, which faces possible closure is the issued cannot be resolved, said: "Despite what they tell us, there is no wonder we are flooding where we are at low tide and the gate remains shut."

The agency has been contacted for further comment.