Tankers brought in after pumping station floods

The top of the Lower Shelton pumping station can be seen on the left, submerged in floodwater on the A421 near the bridge that carries Beancroft Road

Articulated tankers and pumping equipment are being used to clear a major route after a roadside pumping station became submerged in the floodwater.

The A421 in both directions - between the A6 at Bedford to the M1 junction 13 near Brogborough/Marston Moretaine - has been closed since Sunday after torrential rain.

With recorded water levels of up to 8 ft (2.4m), efforts to clear floodwater from the carriageway had been "severely impacted", National Highways said.

Bedfordshire Police said there would be "no specific timeline for the road to reopen" due to the complexity of the operation, including the recovery of stranded vehicles.

The Lower Shelton pumping station can usually be seen next to the A421

Articulated tankers have been brought in to help clear floodwater from the A421

A highways spokesman said: "Once we have removed the water from the carriageway, we will be able to investigate and better understand if the carriageway is damaged and what repair work will be needed.

"Until we can carry out those investigations, unfortunately it is not possible to provide a timescale for when the road will re-open to traffic."

The pumping station at Lower Shelton was flooded by rising water after heavy rain during Sunday, Monday and the early hours of Tuesday.

Three vehicles abandoned in the flooded section also need to be recovered, but the agency said there were no reports of any injuries.

Road users have been advised to avoid the area if possible or allow extra time for their journeys.

Traffic is currently being diverted via local routes.

Up to 8 ft (2.4m) of floodwater has been recorded on the A421

The BBC has asked the agency why the local pumping station did not start to work as soon as water levels started to rise and how effective it would have been.

It has also asked what is being done to ensure this level of flooding does not happen again.

National Highways has said its "highest priority" was to clear the road of the water and it will answer questions in due course.

Bedfordshire Police confirmed it was working with National Highways and the fire service to clear the water, but with more rain forecast in the week it was "likely to impact efforts".

"All of this complexity means there is no specific timeline for the road to reopen," the force added.