Summary

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Live Reporting

Written by Alice Cunningham; edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. Leave the cricket whites at home

    A cricket pitch is pictured under flood water. Picnic benches can be seen in the water along with their feet just covered in water. There is a skatepark and cricket nets in the background on the far side of the pitch.James Burridge/BBC

    On the edge of Milton Keynes, Stony Stratford's cricket and football club pitches are underwater.

    It is certainly a day to leave the cricket whites and bats at home.

    Another angle of the flooded cricket pitch. Parts of the pitch can be seen through the water. Cricket equipment, included white sight screens, is in the background as well as trees that border the pitch.James Burridge/BBC

  2. 'It was a bit ironic being rescued from a boat to a boat'

    Kate Bradbrook
    BBC Look East

    Lee Mills and Saphire Blurton are pictured with their arms around each other in front of the River Nene. The river has burst its banks and there are several swans standing behind them. A sign warning that the footpath is closed is next to them. Several flats are in the background.Kate Bradbrook/BBC

    Saphire Blurton, 32, and Lee Mills, 53, moved into a boat on the River Nene in Northampton on Monday and never expected the next morning they'd be rescued by the fire service.

    When they awoke they had no idea the water levels were rising until firefighters knocked on their boat door.

    "It was a bit of an eye-opener," Mr Mills said.

    "It was nice being rescued by the fire brigade... a bit ironic being rescued from a boat to a boat but it was OK, they were really good people.

    "They were really on it because a few boats have sunk down here this morning already and that's not nice.

    "Our boat at the minute is OK."

    Ms Blurton added the fire service had done an "outstanding job".

    "I was a little bit panicky although I didn't let it on," she said.

    "Once I was in the raft I was alright after that.

    "When I've walked up and down here in the past, I've never seen it as flooded as this. I'm not used to it at all."

  3. Holiday park under water

    An aerial shot of Cogenhoe Mill Holiday Park shows the ground at the site is completely under water.PA Media

    A holiday park in Northamptonshire is under water.

    Cogenhoe Mill Holiday Park is submerged after the River Nene burst its banks.

    Photos show the extent of the flooding and a man can be seen wading through the water, which comes up to his knees.

    A man is wading through knee-high water in the middle of a holiday park with static homes.PA Media
    A view from a above shows gardens at the holiday park submerged in water.PA Media
    People stand in the brown flood water at Cogenhoe Mill Holiday ParkPA Media

  4. 'The right thing to do'

    Amy Holmes
    BBC News, Bedfordshire

    A general view of Rachel Lenton. She is facing and smiling to the camera. She is wearing a leopard-print dress and has brown hair with a blonde streak. She is wearing a watch and her arms are placed one over the other in her lap.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Rachel Lenton is the owner of Marston Beans cafe in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, where there has been significant flooding.

    She kept her cafe open on Sunday night to assist anyone struggling during the flooding.

    "Having seen all the posts on Facebook of people needing help and of all the flooding, it just seemed to be the right thing to do to be here should anyone need anything," she explained.

    "We had blankets, we had hot drinks, we were here until about half 11.

    "Lots of people came in asking if they could help or what they could do.

    "Luckily nobody actually needed our help but we were here if it was needed and everybody was so supportive."

    Ms Lenton added the community had come together to help each other which she described as "amazing".

  5. Milton Keynes road closure update

    Milton Keynes Council has posted an updated list of roads closed in the city due to flooding.

    It said crews were monitoring the water levels and pumping flooded underpasses.

    Roads closed include:

    • A422 Chicheley to Astwood
    • B526 to Weston Road at Ravenstone Mill Road junction
    • Lower Weald
    • School Lane, Loughton
    • Simpson Road, Simpson
    • Eskdale Way, Broughton
    • Riverside, Newport Pagnell
    • Priory Street, Newport Pagnell
    • Little Linford Lane, Newport Pagnell

  6. Busy hospitals advise avoidance unless it is life threatening

    An ambulance is parked outside the entrance to Luton & Dunstable Hospital which says "Accident and Emergency"Getty Images

    The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has urged people to avoid visiting emergency departments unless it is for a life-threatening reason.

    Both Bedford and Luton & Dunstable Hospitals said they had been busy due to adverse weather conditions.

    The trust advised potential patients to consider contacting their GP, calling NHS 111, or visiting a local pharmacy so it can focus on emergencies.

  7. Drone shows extent of flooded football club

    A drone image of Spencer Football Club pitch in Northampton. It shows the pitch and surrounding field that are completely submerged in water. Goal posts and buildings can still be seen.PA Media

    More photos from the Spencer Football Club pitches on Studland Road in Northampton show the extent of the flooding.

    With just parts of a goal visible, it currently looks more suitable for water polo.

    A ground level photo of the Spencer Football Club pitch. The stands and football buildings can be seen as well as goal posts. Trees sit in the background.PA Media
    Another view of the flooded Spencer Football Club pitch. The water has completed submerged the area with just the goal posts, pitch lights and stadium buildings on show above the water.PA Media

  8. Fire service dealing with floods, fires and false alarms

    Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, which said earlier it had attended 30 flood-related incidents between Monday and Tuesday morning, has revealed the nature of some of these.

    They include:

    • Isolating utilities and clearing drains at a flooded Kingsthorpe Shopping Centre
    • Pumping water away at Harlestone Road, Northampton
    • Assisting staff with an evacuation at the Park Campus of University of Northampton
    • Unblocking drains at Glebe Road, Deanshanger
    • Pumping away water and monitoring the ground in Carrs Way, Harpole
    • Assisting at floodings at Duston Road in Upper Harlestone, Upton Close in Woodford Halse and Prestpury Road in Northampton
    • Flooding at properties on Rose Hall Lane in Middleton Cheney and Glassthorpe Lane in Harpole
    • A fire underground, believed to be caused by water damage in Beech Grove, Northampton
    • Assisted neighbouring fire service with a person trapped in a vehicle due to flooding in Biddlesden
    • Attended report of a boat in difficulty on the River Nene at South Bridge Road, Northampton
    • Isolating electrics at properties on Holyrood Walk in Corby and Balmoral Road in Northampton due to flood damage
    • There were seven incidents of water damage causing false alarms

  9. Floods fill Flitwick

    Water is still causing disruption in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, as some drivers on Greenfield Road are discovering.

    A road is submerged in water, surrounded by trees and bushes either side, with a silver car stuck in the middleLee Agnew/BBC

    The River Flit has burst its banks after persistent rainfall.

    The burst banks of the River Flit mean water has flooded a green leafy area with brown water. Impassable water is either side of a wire fence.Lee Agnew/BBC

  10. 'It was good to save them all'

    Amy Holmes
    BBC News, Bedfordshire

    A general view of Kirsty Fanthorpe. She is pictured smiling to the camera and is wearing a green T-shirt with a necklace, red hair and glasses on top of her head. She sits outside a cafe on a bench.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Kirsty Fanthorpe was involved in helping rescue about 30 sheep as well as other animals from flooding at Lower Shelton Farm, close to Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, on Sunday night.

    She explained when she first arrived the water was only about 3in (7.6cm) high before it rapidly moved up to waist height.

    Her love for animals inspired her to help.

    "It was sad but it was good to do something and save them all," she said.

    "They're all fine and I think they've got a paddock now."

    She added she felt the Marston Moretaine flooding was unexpected.

  11. Car park closed until Monday

    A general view of Tove long stay car park in Towcester. It shows the road sign for the car park with cars parked behind. A barrier can be seen along with street lights.West Northamptonshire Council

    West Northamptonshire Council, speaking on social media, said it had closed its Tove long stay car park on Northampton Road in Towcester until "at least" Monday due to flooding.

    "Time restrictions for the Tove short stay car park have been lifted, meaning people are permitted to park there all day while the long stay car park is closed," it added.

  12. 'Do not drive through any road closure'

    Milton Keynes City Council has confirmed the A422 remains closed due to flooding.

    "The road closure will be removed once it is safe for traffic and the road is free of any debris or standing water," a spokesperson said on social media.

    "Use an alternative route and do not attempt to drive through any road closure."

  13. Rain stops play - there's a football pitch under here

    A drone image shows the Spencer Football Club pitch under water in Northampton. The entire pitch is covered with water while the goal posts can be seen at each end of the pitch. The club's buildings can be seen as well as trees and bushes that surround the pitch.PA Media

    The former Northampton Spencer FC ground is under water.

    Rain has stopped play for the teams that use the ground on Studland Road, which has been run by the Spencer Community Trust since it took over the lease.

  14. Councillor ‘in tears’ at town's flooding 'carnage'

    Heather Townsend looking at the camera.Heather Townsend

    Heather Townsend says Flitwick needs more support to prevent and tackle flooding.

    The River Flit burst its banks and submerged roads left the Bedfordshire town cut off.

    Read the full story here.

    Hinksley Road in Flitwick with flooding on the road and pavements, with the grass verges still above waterHeather Townsend

  15. Watch: Aerial footage shows the extent of the new A421 'lake'

    Watch: A421 submerged by flood water in Bedfordshire

    Drone footage showed the flooding under the A421 Marston Moretaine junction flyover on Monday afternoon.

    Water levels seemed pretty much unchanged on Tuesday, with National Highways saying attempts were being made to pump water off the dual carriageway.

    However, the agency could not say when the road between Bedford and Milton Keynes was likely to reopen.

  16. Watch: The Nene bursts its banks in Northampton

    Andy Durrant has sent us video footage of a lock on the River Nene unable to do its normal job due to the high water levels in the centre of Northampton.

    The fast-flowing brown river has flooded surrounding footpaths near the University of Northampton.

  17. School remains closed to most year groups

    Wollaston School in Northamptonshire has confirmed it remains closed to most year groups.

    Students in Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 have been told to not to come in while those in Year 11 and 13 should attend.

    This remains the same from a statement the school shared on social media on Monday.

    Letters informing parents have been sent out, a school spokeswoman confirmed.

    There are no reports of any schools in Bedfordshire staying closed on Tuesday, although the Jack Hunt School in Peterborough is now on its second day of closure, due to storm damage to its electrics, which has meant its fire alarm system is broken.

    The secondary school said it would be sending messages to parents about online work for pupils.

  18. A421 full diversion route

    National Highways has released the full diversion route around the A421 at the Marston Moretaine Interchange in Bedfordshire.

    The road is heavily flooded with no reopening date in sight.

    Both the northbound and southbound diversions are not symbol led.

    Those wishing to travel northbound towards Bedford should use the following route:

    • From the M1 junction 13 take Bedford Road northbound towards Ampthill/Ridgmont
    • Travel northbound on Bedford Road for approximately seven miles, continuing as it transitions into Woburn Road and passing through Brogborough and Marston Moretaine, to the Marsh Leys junction roundabout with the A6/A421.
    • From here you can re-join the A421 to continue your journey

    Those wishing to travel southbound towards Milton Keynes should use the following route:

    • Exit the A421 southbound at the Marsh Leys junction with the A6 for Northampton
    • At the roundabout take the second exit onto Woburn road southbound towards Wootton
    • Continue southbound on Woburn Road for approximately seven miles, continuing as it transitions into Bedford Road and passing through Marston Moretaine and Brogborough to reach junction 13 of the M1
    • From here road users can continue their journey

  19. River Nene's burst banks pictured

    A photo shows the flooding in Northampton after the River Nene burst its banks. Fast flowing water is pictured moving over a lock while grass nearby has been flooded over. An overbridge, a building and trees can be seen in the distance.Andy Durrant

    More photos have emerged from Northampton where the River Nene has burst its banks.

    Photos from Andy Durrant show the flooding in the area next to the University of Northampton.

    The fire service said that nobody had been injured when it helped people off boats.

    A photo shows the River Nene in Northampton and its burst banks. Trees and bushes that usually line the river around surrounded by flood water. Buildings are in the distance and there is a bridge.Andy Durrant

  20. Woburn sees double September average rainfall

    Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire saw more than 100mm of rain in the last 48 hours, according to the Met Office.

    Woburn in Bedfordshire saw 132mm of rain - more than twice the amount of its September average.