Storms prompt 800 emergency calls

Essex Fire Service said about 60 homes were damaged

Essex Police received more than 800 emergency calls in 24 hours because of the stormy weather conditions.

On Saturday the force dealt with a total of 1,334 calls to both the emergency and non-emergency numbers.

A police spokeswoman said 98 calls were to report fallen trees while others were about crashes, fallen electrical wires, flooding and alarms going off.

In Ongar a tree fell on a police car but the officer driving suffered only minor injuries. No-one else was hurt.

The officer was driving along the High Street towards the Four Wantz roundabout when the tree fell.

In Benfleet about 60 homes and several vehicles were damaged when what residents reported as a tornado tore through the street. No-one was injured.

Essex Police have urged motorists to drive with caution, watch out for flood water on roads and remember to put car lights on in gloomy weather.