Firefighters have advised motorists to be extra careful while driving through standing water after a car got stuck in an Ingatestone ford.

The warning came after heavy rainfall over the weekend and after the incident where a car got trapped at Buttsbury Wash, Mountnessing Road on Friday.

Crews from Ingatestone, Billericay and Grays were in attendance and took 15 minutes to free the driver.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “It is mind boggling just how many people will drive their car into standing water with no idea of how deep it is.

“When faced with water drivers should exercise a little common sense. If they can they should find an alternative route. If there is no way round they should park safely and get out to check the depth of the water before they drive into it.

“Just driving into water and hoping for the best is not an option, by the time you find out the water is too deep you are already trapped.”