Summary

Watch: Why has it rained so much recently?

Live Reporting

Written by Alice Cunningham; edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. Live updates coming to an end for the day

    Cogenhoe Mill Holiday Park in Northamptonshire submerged by floodwater after the River Nene burst its banks. Four caravans are shown surrounded by flood waterPA Media

    We're wrapping up the live updates for Tuesday.

    There's still plenty of work to be done with the clean-up operations around the region, and there's no immediate sign of the A421 reopening in Bedfordshire.

    There are no active weather warnings from the Met Office, but flood warnings and alerts remain in place.

    We shall continue to report subsequent news of the flooding, and the aftermath, across the website.

  2. Another school closed today

    A car driving through brown flood water in Grendon, Northants, with two men standing nearby onJoe Giddens/PA Media

    Flooding in Grendon, pictured on Monday

    While many schools that were closed on Monday have reopened, Grendon CE Primary in Northamptonshire has been closed on Tuesday.

    The village includes Grendon Lakes, which is next to a flood-prone section of the River Nene.

    Slightly further upstream on the river is the Cogenhoe Mill Holiday Park, which has also been affected by the flooding.

  3. 'Somebody's home is underwater'

    Kate Bradbrook
    BBC News, Northamptonshire

    Ian Bates is pictured standing in front of the River Nene in Northampton that has burst its banks. Boats are pictured behind him on the water with blocks of flats in the background. He is wearing green waterproof overalls as well as a high-vis coat.Kate Bradbrook/BBC

    Ian Bates is another boat owner on the River Nene in Northampton.

    He has owned his vessel for five years and said the recent flooding in the area was the "direct consequence of climate change".

    "All of our homes, all of our livelihoods and all of our lives are at direct threat of the climate crisis," he said.

    He stressed action was needed at all levels to fight the issue.

    "Yesterday, the boat behind me was above water and floating," he continued.

    "It's not anymore; it's sunk so somebody's home is underwater. They won't be able to retrieve that."

    Mr Bates added he did not realise the boats that sunk were under such a serious threat and wished he could have helped.

  4. 'No injured boat owners,' says fire service

    The fire service has said no boat owners in the South Bank Road area of Northampton were injured during significant flooding on Tuesday morning.

    Crews first arrived at 06:23 after reports the River Nene burst its banks.

    "On arrival, firefighters found that the river had breached the side of the bank and liaised with boat owners to offer safety advice," a spokesman for the Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

    "After speaking to firefighters, three occupants were assisted from their boats on to dry land.

    "One boat had sunk at the location yesterday, with no-one reported to be on board.

    "Shortly afterwards, at 07:13, crews were relocated to Old Towcester Road where they found two boats becoming submerged by fast moving water.

    "Crews, including Swiftwater Rescue Technicians, used rafts to rescue two people and a dog from the boats, before leading them to safety."

    All crews returned to their stations shortly after 08:45.

  5. Ideal conditions for a canoe in Northampton

    A drone image shows a man canoeing down a flooded street after heavy rain in Northampton. The man can be seen in a red canoe with paddles. Trees and bushes line the road and a house can be seen nearby that has not suffered from any flooding.Reuters

    A drone image shows a man canoeing down a flooded street after heavy rain in Northampton - you can just about make out the road's broken centre line through the murky water.

    The property seems to have been protected by the grass verge and a fence.

  6. Everyone back indoors - 'the water was rising'

    Tom Jackson
    BBC News, Cambridgeshire

    A view of light brown cows in a farm building. About eight cows are seen looking at the camera with a pen holding hay and food in front of them.Tom Jackson/BBC

    A Cambridgeshire farmer said she had to move her cattle from their pasture "in a bit of a panic" after noticing water rising in the area.

    Linda Sewell usually has her livestock munching the meadows at St Ives up until the end of October.

    However, she moved them earlier following the recent heavy rain and storms and threat of the Great Ouse bursting its banks.

    She says it's compounding the restrictions on moving the animals due to bluetongue disease restrictions.

    Read the full story here.

  7. Rising water levels forces farmer to move cattle

    Moving them indoors this early is "something I didn't need on top of the bluetongue," says a farmer.

    Read More

  8. Flooded A5 reopened
    Breaking

    National Highways has said on social media it has reopened the A5 northbound carriageway near Milton Keynes.

    It had been closed earlier due to flooding.

    National Highways thanked drivers for their patience and understanding.

  9. 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

  10. '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."

  11. 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

  12. '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 the village has seen significant flooding on the A421 bypass.

    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".

  13. 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

  14. 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.

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. '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.

  19. 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.

  20. '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."