Residents argue Essex Police overreacted over flood risk warnings which led to thousands staying home

A full-scale evacuation operation was due to get underway last Friday as the Environment Agency warned 2,500 homes in Jaywick and Point Clear could be at risk from severe weather and high tides.

An emergency evacuation centre was set up at the former Bishops Park College in nearby Jaywick Lane.

But most residents refused to leave and were determined to sit out the drama in their own homes.

Stormy - residents make their way along the busy road

Dan Casey was a Jaywick councillor when the last storm surge sparked an evacuation three years ago.

He said: “When I was at the evacuation centre on Friday night, there were between 80 and 100 people, but most decided they weren’t going to leave their properties after about 25 houses were broken into last time.”

Extra police were in Jaywick to protect empty properties from potential looting.

But one resident, who asked not to be named, claimed Jaywick residents were still worried about their homes being burgled if they were forced to evacuate.

He claimed 35 residents had their homes broken into during the 2013 storm surge and said the extra police presence last week was “barely visible”.

Defiant - Christopher Nichols and dog Brace were not leaving

But Tendring police commander Russ Cole assured residents that officers were in place.

He said: “I won’t have my cops wading in water up to their necks, realistically, but we’re certainly surrounding the area.

“If any burglar believes coming down to the area would be rich pickings, then that will not be the case.

“There’s a good chance they will be arrested, so hopefully that can give people some assurances that they can leave their homes.”

Police had started knocking on people’s doors last Thursday afternoon warning residents of the dangers of remaining in their homes.

But many signed disclaimers and vowed to stay put.

Relaxed - Jackie Graham outside of her home on Brooklands

Alan and Patricia Betts, of Alvis Avenue, both celebrated their birthday indoors and recalled the hurricane of 1987, which saw a caravan park in Jaywick flattened by gale-force winds.

Mr Betts, 67, said last week’s severe weather did not compare with the strength of the winds 30 years ago, which had battered the South of England.

He said: “We were without power for four days and all the locals got together.

"The pub hired a generator and served hot food, and the smaller shops gave out freezer food.

“When we moved here in 1986, during a windy day, even in the summer, the tide came over the wall.

“You could see the 20ft drop over the beach before they built the beach up.

“The authorities have spent millions of pounds in flood defences so why all the panic?”

Shop owners also showed the British bulldog spirit, saying it was business as usual amid the chaos.

Staff in the post office at Beach Way put the community first to open their doors at 8.45am on Friday.

Compassionate - Post Office management opened at 8.45am

Davina Griffiths, who has run the post office with Monica Nichols for five years, said it was typical of the spirit of Jaywick.

“We are a proud community round here and always stick together,” she said.

“It was important to us to keep things going.

“We are relied upon in the community as a local shop and have had people come in to top up their electricity meter, and buy groceries.

“It is a two or three-mile walk to the next nearest post office.”