Flooding caused by heavy rain and thunderstorms across the weekend continues to have an effect across parts of the East of England
Part of the A421 is still closed in Bedfordshire
One lane of the A5 at Milton Keynes is closed
Most schools that were closed on Monday in Beds, Northants and Peterborough have reopened
The River Nene has burst its banks in Northampton and people have been rescued from boats
A red flood warning has been issued for the Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire
Watch: Why has it rained so much recently?
Image source, Glenda RogersThe village of Yardley Hastings, near Northampton, has also been badly hit by flooding.
On one path, Wellington boots are just about able to keep the feet dry.
Image source, Glenda Rogers
Nicky Schiller
BBC News
Image source, Nicky Schiller/BBCIt is still raining here in Marston Moretaine where the A421 is completely flooded.
But help has arrived and the junction, between Bedford and Milton Keynes.
National Highways are on site with some large tankers which are going to start pumping some of the water but as you can see from the pictures we've been showing you it will be a mammoth job to clear all the flood water.
One of the local newspaper headlines is "Bedford's new river?".
It certainly still looks like one from where I am standing on the bridge.
Click on the "Watch live" button at the top of the page to see BBC coverage of the floods across England, with a heavy emphasis on Bedfordshire.
Image source, Nicky Schiller/BBC
Image source, Jo Black/BBCAt St Mary's Church of England Lower School in Clophill in Bedfordshire the clean-up operation in under way.
The school, which is on a flood plain, said this was the worst flooding it had seen after it was forced to close today.
Site manager Derek Speake has been trying to brush away copious amounts of mud and water to get the doors back open tomorrow.
Image source, Derek Speake
Image source, ReutersThere is still no news on when the A421 south of Bedford might reopen.
One dog walker has been seen looking down at an abandoned, almost entirely submerged car (which we pictured earlier), the top of which can be seen bobbing above the surface of the water.
Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East
Image source, Kate Bradbrook/BBCKirsty Brewer works at R&R Hair Services on Dunstable High Street and says flooding has become commonplace in the Bedfordshire town.
"We've experienced our fourth flood in the last six years," she told the BBC.
"Luckily we don't open on a Monday anyway, so it hasn't affected business in that sense but we've been here for the last three hours cleaning everything up, trying to get rid of all of the mud, all of the water."
Being in a listed building, the owners have not been allowed to install a flood gate and so preparation has become key, she said.
"We just have to prepare for the storms to happen, the floods to happen and deal with the aftermath. It's very frustrating," she added.
When the business flooded for the first time six years ago there was thousands of pounds worth of damage but Ms Brewer said now damage is limited thanks to storing items up high, including electrics.
We've just had this striking photo of the A421 in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire.
If you look closely, the open boot of a car is just about visible in the bottom right of the photo.
Image source, Joe Giddens/PA MediaMark Poynting
Climate and environment researcher
Image source, PA MediaIt's not yet possible to quantify exactly how much of a role climate change has played in the heavy rainfall affecting much of England and Wales.
That requires a full scientific analysis of natural and human causes, which can take weeks or months.
But such episodes of intense rainfall have been getting more common as the UK’s climate changes.
According to the Met Office, the UK appears to be getting more “very wet days” – the term used to describe days with at least 10mm (0.4in) of rain.
And scientists at the World Weather Attribution group found that the amount of rainfall on the stormiest days last winter was about 20% higher due to human-caused climate change.
Warmer air can hold more moisture – about 7% for every 1C of temperature rise. This extra moisture can lead to heavier rainfall.
Flooding in Clophill around the River Flit has threatened homes and businesses.
A Business owner in Clophill, Bedfordshire, near the River Flit, tells BBC Three Counties the impact the flooding has had on his livelihood. A resident calls the situation 'apocalyptic'.
Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East
Image source, Kate Bradbrook/BBCViki Drury, a massage therapist and owner of Rejuvenated Therapy in Dunstable High Street, told the BBC she saw water, soil and debris flood into her business over the weekend.
She said it suffered numerous bouts of flooding that she attempted to stop.
"There's nothing you can do, you just have to stand and wait for the water to subside so you can come in and clean up again," she explained.
"[I am] tired - physically, emotionally, it's draining.
"You can't give up, you have to keep going, but that's really, really draining."
Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio
Image source, Tony Fisher/BBCMore pictures have shown the state of the A421 at the Marston Moretaine Interchange.
The road remains closed and is now looking like a river itself.
Image source, Tony Fisher/BBC
Image source, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue ServiceNorthamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received 81 calls over the weekend related to weather incidents.
Of those, 28 required the fire service to attend while the other 53 cases were able to receive advice over the phone.
The fire service said in one instance, a Moulton crew pumped out 50,000 litres of flood water in the open at Kingscroft Court on Sunday morning.
The same day, shortly before 13:00 BST, crews from Wellingborough and Moulton were called to Washbrook Road in Rushden where lightning had struck the chimney of a domestic property.
The strike caused the structure to become dangerous and crews had to remove loose bricks from it to make it safe.
Just after 20:00, two people were also rescued and walked out of flood water on Easton Way in Grendon, the fire service said.
Nicky Shiller
I've been in the Bedfordshire village of Marston Moretaine where the A421, the main road between Bedford and Milton Keynes, has been closed because of flooding.
The road looks more like a river.
From my vantage point on a bridge over the road, I can see a submerged car with what looks like its boot open, which shows just how deep the water is in this spot.
People have been coming to look at the impact of floods, with one man telling me he had to see it with his own eyes.
As well as the road, the rail line from Bedford to Bletchley was shut as a result of floods.
Reporters, a resident, a councillor and a Bedfordshire MP react to the deluge of water.
We spoke to BBC reporters Toby Friedner and Ollie Bayliss, Shirley who called in from Marston Mortaine, Independent leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Adam Zerney, and Labour MP for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, Alex Mayer.
Central Bedfordshire, which is one of the worst hit areas, has an assistance centre now open to help affected residents.
The council has opened it in Leighton Buzzard at the Meadow May Community Centre.
A spokesperson for the authority added its leisure centres remained open and could be used by anyone who needed temporary relief from a flooded home or other assistance.
"If you or someone you know is vulnerable and needs assistance, contact our emergency helpline number on 0300 300 8500. Please note, this is not to request sandbags or aquasacs," a council spokesperson said.
Image source, Sophie SulehriaPhotos sent in by Sophie Sulehria show flooding in Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire.
Water can be seen across the width of the road and pavement.
Image source, Sophie SulehriaCentral Bedfordshire Council has told residents to "only travel if you need to" during the bad weather.
Residents were also urged to avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.
"We ask that people don’t ignore flood warning or road closure signs, and if you are driving through shallow water, it’s very important to do so slowly as it can push water into people’s homes," a spokesperson for the authority said in a statement."We will begin conducting a full impact assessment today and continue to check on and support those residents in most need."
Image source, PA MediaA Northamptonshire man described the moment he saw a "wave of water" heading towards him during flooding on Sunday night.
Tim Maher and his partner Carol Findon, from Grendon, saw their two-storey home partially submerged overnight with more than a foot of water.
He explained a river level app on his phone at 20:45 alerted him to rising levels nearby.
Image source, PA Media"I decided to drive down to the bridge and saw the water breaking the banks and coming down the road towards me," he said.
"I quickly turned around, drove home and put up a flood barrier we've got up against the door.
"It kept out a lot of the water, but we've had about an inch overnight."
Mr Maher said their home had suffered damage and it would likely be difficult to dry everything out.
"We haven't had much sleep and at least eight houses on our road have been impacted. It would be nice to get a permanent solution to this problem," he added.
Helen Mulroy
BBC News, Bedfordshire
Image source, Helen MulroyLuton's Wardown Park, just off the A6 New Bedford Road, has been badly affected by flooding.
The park is partially submerged, including the play area, paths and green spaces.
Image source, Helen Mulroy
Image source, Helen Mulroy
Image source, Hertfordshire County CouncilHertfordshire County Council said its highways team, as well as the county's fire and rescue service, had received in total 260 reports of flooding since the start of the weekend.
Letchworth, Hitchin, Harpenden and St Albans were the worst affected areas.
Phil Bibby, executive member for highways at the council, said the teams had "responded brilliantly" to the challenges.
"I’d like to thank residents for promptly reporting issues to us over the past few days and for their ongoing patience as we continue to respond," he said.
"This is a timely opportunity for us to remind them of the risks of weather like this and the precautionary steps they can take to protect their own property and stay safe and well as they move around the county."
Image source, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue ServiceNorthamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service's, external area manager, Neil Sadler, has urged people to "take care" in floods.
"There may be abandoned cars on the road and hazards under the water that aren’t visible," he said.
"We ask people to keep listening to forecasts and follow the safety messages and advice shared by the fire service and other partners."
He urged drivers to consider whether they could reschedule their journeys.