Storms hold back tide

The storms which held up the Clipper 2002 round the world yacht race at the weekend also held up the flood tide in some places.

Tides in the Thames Estuary, for instance, were around 1.7m lower than predicted.

This was good news for many yachtsmen who keep boats along the south Essex foreshore as it meant some of the craft did not float and thus were prevented from being torn from their moorings.