Police urge people in Essex towns to evacuate ahead of high tide

Police say they are not 'crying wolf' in asking residents in Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea to leave homes immediately

Essex police have insisted they are not "crying wolf" in urging residents in the coastal communities of Jaywick, Mistley and West Mersea to evacuate their homes immediately before expected severe flooding on Friday night.

By early afternoon evacuees were beginning to arrive at emergency "rest centres" in Clacton and West Mersea.