A BEACH park that flooded has reopened after work took place to prevent the closure of the park.

Grays Beach Park, Thames Road, Grays flooded after flytipping caused problems at the site.

Anglian Water carried out work on the culvert, an underground waterway, to prevent it happening again and stop sea water from reaching the play area.

The work took the water authority 81 days and the company has installed a new flap valve to help stop the flooding.

Four tonnes of new sand has also been placed by Anglian Water to top up the sand pit and the fencing, around the affected area, has been taken down.

Pauline Tolson, councillor for environment said she is pleased this issue which has caused so much disappointment for families over the summer is finally fixed.

She added: "When I met with Anglian Water at Grays Beach Park, we all agreed to work together to get this problem sorted out once and for all.

“It’s just typical that it’s only a couple of weeks before the clocks go back is when the problem has finally been fixed and the park is usable again.”

The Thurrock Gazette reported in August how the sand play area of the park was closed off on July 26 due to flooding.

It later reopened on July 29 but had to be was closed again on July 31 after new flooding was reported, and despite Anglian Water having said the problem had been fixed.

A spokesman said the company said, at the time of flooding, that Anglian Water had removed the debris which had washed from the lagoon onto the water company’s screen that protects its pumping station.

At full Thurrock Council meeting, it was unanimously agreed by all councillors to investigate the reasons why Grays Beach Park was closed over the summer.

Ms Tolson added: “I welcome the review by the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee on what lessons can be learnt for the future.

"I’ll be putting whatever pressure we can on Anglian Water to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”