Summary

Media caption,

Watch: Why has it rained so much recently?

  1. Rain stops play - there's a football pitch under herepublished at 11:06 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    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.Image source, 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, external since it took over the lease.

  2. Councillor ‘in tears’ at town's flooding 'carnage'published at 11:00 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Heather Townsend looking at the camera.Image source, 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 waterImage source, Heather Townsend
  3. Watch: Aerial footage shows the extent of the new A421 'lake'published at 10:53 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Media caption,

    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, external.

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

  4. Watch: The Nene bursts its banks in Northamptonpublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    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.

  5. School remains closed to most year groupspublished at 10:37 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    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., external

    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, external about online work for pupils.

  6. A421 full diversion routepublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    National Highways has released the full diversion route, external 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
  7. River Nene's burst banks picturedpublished at 10:02 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    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.Image source, 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.Image source, Andy Durrant
  8. Woburn sees double September average rainfallpublished at 09:57 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    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.

  9. Eight feet of water means 'no timescale for A421 reopening'published at 09:43 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    A picture of tankers on the A421 at the Marstone Moretaine Interchange in Bedfordshire. The road is flooded with the three vehicles parked close to the water. Pump lines can be seen on the road while workers in high-vis move about.Image source, Reuters

    National Highways has confirmed, external it has "no timeline" to reopen the A421 at the Marston Moretaine Interchange in Bedfordshire and it "is expected the the A421 will remain closed today".

    Tankers are at the junction pumping the water away and a diversion is in place for drivers.

    The roads agency's travel alert page says that "following spells of torrential rain" on Sunday evening "water levels of up to eight feet [were] recorded".

  10. Students halls evacuated in Northamptonpublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed it has helped rescue people from boats on the River Nene in Northampton, including some close to the university campus.

    On Monday, crews also supported the university in an evacuation of the Boughton Green Road halls of residence after water flooded the basement and affected the electrics.

    There have been no reports of injuries, according to the fire service.

  11. High river levels in Cambridgeshirepublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    The Great River Ouse in Eynesbury in St Neots is pictured. The water levels are high and a bridge is pictured over the river.Image source, Tom Jackson/BBC

    There are high water levels on the River Great Ouse at St Neots in Cambridgeshire.

    These pictures show the Coneygeare footbridge between Eynesbury and the Riverside Park flood plain at Eaton Ford, with water encroaching up the grassy bank on the Coneygeare Court side of the river.

    The Environment Agency says a red flood warning is in place for the town, external.

    A picture of the Great River Ouse from a different angle that shows it has burst its banks. Water can be seen flooded onto nearby grass while trees line the river further down.Image source, Tom Jackson/BBC
  12. Bedfordshire schools reopenedpublished at 09:13 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Schools across Bedfordshire that were closed on Monday have appeared to of reopened on Tuesday.

    According to both Central Bedfordshire Council, external and Bedford Borough Council, external websites, the schools are all open.

    No schools in Luton were closed due to flooding on Monday.

  13. 'Disruption has been a challenge' says estate agentpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Amy Holmes
    BBC News, Bedfordshire

    James Kendall is pictured outside a cafe in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire. He is smiling to the camera while wearing a light brown coat, black top and black glasses. He has a beard and short brown/grey hair.Image source, Amy Holmes/BBC

    James Kendall, who runs an own estate agency in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire, said the disruption meant attempting to keep working had been a struggle.

    "Trying to get into Bedford from Marston Moretaine has been a bit of a challenge, certainly for us, we serve a 10-15 mile radius," he said.

    "It's been quite difficult to get to and from places.

    "It's been sometimes half an hour, an hour, on top of our [normal] journeys."

    Mr Kendall said the A421 looked "almost like a riverbank".

  14. Fire service at River Nenepublished at 08:54 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    A photo of the River Nene in Northampton. The river's water level is high and a bridge can be seen in the distance with a fire service vehicle on it. Buildings can be seen around the river while lights reflect on the water.Image source, Contributed

    Witnesses at the River Nene near the Morrisons supermarket in Northampton have reported on social media, external the fire service is in attendance rescuing boat owners.

    The river has burst its banks in the county town.

  15. Flood alerts and warnings in placepublished at 08:38 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    A photo of a map shows a red flood warning along the River Lee between Luton and Welwyn Garden City. It shows a large area of Hertfordshire where the river stretches and it details the flood warning in red.Image source, Environment Agency

    Several flood alerts and warnings are in place on Tuesday, according to the Environment Agency. , external

    A warning, which mean flooding is "expected", is in place along the River Lea between Luton, Harpenden and Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire.

    A warning is also in place at Cogenhoe Mill Caravan Site on the River Nene in Northamptonshire.

    Flood alerts, that state flooding is "possible", are similarly in place across these counties as well as in Buckinghamshire.

    The full list of alerts and warnings affecting Bedfordshire and the River Great Ouse at St Neots in Cambridgeshire can be found on the Environment Agency's flood alerts and warnings page, external.

  16. Buckinghamshire road closed offpublished at 08:26 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    The A422 Newport Road at Chicheley near Milton Keynes has been closed in both directions due to flooding.

    Heavy traffic is building in the area from the A509 (Chicheley Hill Roundabout) to the Newton Blossomville turn off (Hardmead).

  17. Are there any weather warnings today?published at 08:12 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Over the weekend and Monday, the Met Office put a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in place across most of England.

    An amber weather warning was also in force for some areas including Northamptonshire.

    On Tuesday, no weather warnings have been issued.

    Dan Harris, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said on its website, external that Tuesday's weather across England and Wales would be "quieter" with just a few showers.

  18. Why was the East of England hit by flash flooding?published at 08:04 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Media caption,

    BBC Look East's Gillian Brown on why there has been flash flooding

  19. A421 abandoned vehicles to be recoveredpublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Nicky Schiller
    BBC News, Bedfordshire

    The A421 flooded road in Bedfordshire pictured a day after it was heavily flooded. The road is completely submerged while tankers can be seen in the background that have arrived to pump out water. The non-flooded road ahead has no other vehicles on it. A road sign can be seen in the distance while the road is lined with trees and grass.Image source, Nicky Schiller/BBC

    In the last half an hour at the scene of the flooded A421 Marston Moretaine Interchange, two large tankers have arrived to help pump out flood water.

    According to National Highways, a nearby pumping station that could have helped has flooded.

    They added that three vehicles were abandoned on the road and these will be recovered at some point.

    There is no timescale for the reopening of the road due to the fact the road surface will have to be examined for any damage.

    Local people have dubbed the road "Bedfordshire's new river" as well as "Bedfordshire's new water feature".

  20. 'We've seen a drop in calls'published at 07:50 British Summer Time 24 September 2024

    Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service's area manager, Neil Sadler, told BBC Radio Northamptonshire that over the last 24 hours they had received about 100 weather-related incident calls with crews sent to 30 of those.

    "[The incidents] range from flooding in the open to properties being affected and some vehicles being stranded in flood water," he said.

    "The impact we've seen in the past 24 hours is generally in Northampton and the south of the county.

    "Most of the calls started around lunchtime yesterday into the early hours this morning and we've seen a drop in calls since around two o'clock this morning."

    He added the service would re-assess later this morning where its response was required and urged people to consider whether their road journeys were necessary.