MOTORISTS faced misery today after rain and a broken down vehicle blocked part of two of the region's major roads. The left-hand lane on the A14 Westbound at Haughley bends was blocked for just over three hours after a lorry broke down at 5.

MOTORISTS faced misery today after rain and a broken down vehicle blocked part of two of the region's major roads.

The left-hand lane on the A14 Westbound at Haughley bends was blocked for just over three hours after a lorry broke down at 5.43am.

In Essex there was more misery as congestion and rain caused 30-mile long traffic queues.

Nishan Wijeratne, spokesman for Essex Police, said: "It is sheer congestion all the way from the A12 at Witham to the M25 interchange. It is due to the rain."