STANFORD-le-Hope councillors have expressed their concern over flooding in the town after overnight rain on Thursday, 25 August, and they are calling for answers from the council about what happened.

And they also fear other problems might be brewing, having observed a lot of standing water at points around the town.

Thurrock Nub News reported in the morning about flooding that stopped some workers being able to drive to their jobs at the Stanhope Industrial estate on Wharf Road.

It was a problem that Stanford West ward councillors Terry Piccolo and Shane Hebb thought had been resolved - a message they passed on the residents last year!

As workers descended on the blighted site then, a permanent solution was promised and Cllrs Hebb and Piccolo issued the following statement: "We are pleased that a decades-old pump-house is being upgraded, new pumps are being fitted, and that remote diagnostics will be able to be completed when required. The drainage system should also capture high levels of water and reduce pressure on the highway."

However, the proof of the pudding has been in the flooding - and it's clear something has gone wrong!

That prompted a new joint statement which says: "We were naturally upset to see a number of roadways in the town affected by this morning's heavy downpour. 

"For many years we have campaigned, and we continue to campaign, for improvements to drainage systems across the town.

"We will be engaging with the relevant authorities to fully understand today's issues and will push for further work to eradicate these issues."