Around 60 homes have been flooded both sides of Lodge Lane in Collier Row and five schools and a GP surgery have been closed after the River Rom burst its banks this morning.

More than 100 people were rescued from the floods by firefighters, including a pregnant woman and her child.

The fire brigade assisted 50 residents from Penn Gardens and another 60 people around Frinton Road in Collier Row.

About 50 firefighters were called after the River Rom burst its banks.

Rescue boats were used to help people leave their homes to go to work or to vote in the EU referendum.

Station Manager Rod Vitalis said at the scene: “The homes been flooded to a depth of about one metre and we’re using rescue boats to get people safely out of their properties if they want to leave them to go to work or out to vote.

“We’re also pumping away water and using sand bags to try and prevent more homes from flooding where we can.

“We envisage being here well into this afternoon, and we’re working hard with multiple agencies to deal with this incident.”

The following schools are closed:

- Brookside Infants

- Brookside Juniors

- The Mawney Foundation School

- Crownfield Junior

- St Edward’s Secondary School

- Oasis Academy Pinewood

- All Pupil referral units (PRUs) are also closed

At the YMCA centre, in Rush Green Road, Romford, director of community service Lou White said the centre was preparing for further rainfall later.

She said: “I can report that the Rom is still flowing very fast, but has receded to the extent that we have most of our car park back.

“Our outside ball court is however under some inches of water.

“Our staff and customers have as usual been fantastic and we are now looking at how we plan for any issues caused by the rain forecast for later.”

The Maylands health centre, Upper Rainham Road, Hornchurch, is also closed.

A spokeswoman from the surgery said: “There is so much water you cannot even enter the building.”

All appointments for today and tomorrow have been cancelled.

The surgery’s phone line has also been affected and it may take a few days to resolve.

If you need to see a GP urgently contact 020 3770 1888 for a same day appointment at North Street Medical Care in Romford or at the Rosewood Medical Centre, Astra Close, Elm Park.

Havering was one of the worst affected boroughs while the fire brigade received 550 weather related emergency calls across the capital.