Fire crews rescue 12 people from flooded park homes

Fire crews have been helping residents at Iford Bridge Residential Park

Firefighters have rescued 12 people from flooded park homes after a river burst its banks.

Dorset crews were called at about 09:20 GMT to Iford Bridge Residential Park in Bournemouth, where some residents had chosen to stay in their homes overnight despite flood warnings.

A council emergency rest centre has been set up for the residents as well as people from two other park home sites along the River Stour.

More heavy rain is forecast in the south of England overnight.

Robbie Strudwick who lives near the riverside park said the water was 1m (3ft) deep

Robbie Strudwick, who lives near Iford Bridge Park, said many of the residents left their homes overnight as the river level rose.

He said he had moved everything in his home "out of the flood's reach" on the ground floor.

Wading through the water, he said it "was nearly 1m (3ft) at the entrance of the caravan park".

The River Stour has burst its banks, flooding homes and roads

Mains power at the residential park was turned off at 23:30 on Monday, with residents urged to prepare for flooding and pack an overnight bag.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council said some people had chosen to stay in their homes.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said a wading crew and a support vehicle were sent to the site, where 12 people and four dogs were rescued.

The council set up an emergency rest centre for residents from Iford Bridge, Redhill and Wheatplot and Stour residential parks.

They were initially housed at Kings Park Leisure and Learning Centre in Bournemouth, but are being moved to Beaufort Community Centre.

Andy Hadley, the council cabinet member in charge of climate response, said: “Residents... will be able to access the rest centre where there will be further support to ensure that they have somewhere safe and warm to stay until it is safe to return to their homes.

“We will continue to support residents today and in the coming days.”

Flooding has also affected roads and facilities in the area.

Longham Bridge has been closed, affecting a main route to Ferndown, and there is no access to Bournemouth Recycling Centre, the council said.

The river level is expected to rise with more heavy rain forecast across the south of England on Tuesday night.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 15 flood warnings across Dorset.

It advised that if a flood warning was in place people should move their families and pets to a safe place, and vehicles to higher ground, if it was safe to do so.