A MOTHER and her young child had a lucky escape after their car became trapped in the middle of rising tidal water.

James Hore

A MOTHER and her young child had a lucky escape after their car became trapped in the middle of rising tidal water.

The woman's car became stuck on the Strood - the strip of road which connects Mersea Island to the mainland - after she “took a risk” crossing it when the water was high.

The drama happened at about 1.20am today and the driver raised the alarm after her car's engine became flooded by water.

The island's fire crew, along with colleagues from Colchester and Chelmsford, waded into the water and worked together to push the car to the Mersea side of the causeway.

The mother and her two-year-old child were left badly shaken but unhurt by the incident.

Afterwards, Essex Fire Service issued a warning to other motorists about the dangers of “taking a risk” crossing the Strood when the tide is up.

“The consequences could have been far more serious,” said a fire service spokesman.

It's not worth taking the risk, even if you think you can make it, but particularly when there are high tide warnings.”