RESIDENTS in Tendring are being urged to prepare for strong winds and heavy rain overnight after experts issued a new weather warning.

The severity of the weather expected to hit the district over the next 24 hours could be worse than previously expected.

There is now an amber severe weather warning in place from the Met Office with gusts of wind between 60mph to 70mph, and isolated gusts up to 80mph.

Up to an inch of rain is also expected on already saturated ground.

Tendring Council says its emergency planning team will monitor the situation and is in constant liaison with the Environment Agency and Met Office.

Spokesman Nigel Brown said: “What we are telling people is that there is no need to panic about the situation but we want them to be aware and prepared.

“We have also sent a separate message out to all holiday parks in the area as the winds seem to be the biggest issue and we have warned them to make everything as secure as possible on their sites.

“It appears the winds will be stronger than was initially expected and there could be trees blown down and damage caused by loose objects."

The worst weather is expected between 6pm today and 10am tomorrow.