Tide swamps flood defence contractor’s digger

A civil engineering contractor building flood defences in Essex returned from a break to find its digger and a dumper truck underwater.

North Notts Civils was caught out by rapidly rising spring tides during work at Chalkwell in Southend, Essex.

The firm was working for Southend Council on repairs to the sea wall

John Lamb, the council’s deputy leader with responsibility for regeneration and enterprise, told the Daily Mail: “The vehicles were quickly recovered.

“They were stranded on part of Chalkwell beach as there is a company doing work repairing and replacing groynes.

“They got caught out but it is part of important flood defence work. No doubt they will use another vehicle and the work will carry on.”