As it happened: Severe warning removed but East Midlands flood disruption continues

Summary

Widespread flooding disruption continues across the East Midlands
A severe, danger-to-life warning was in place at caravan parks on the River Soar in Leicestershire but has since been removed
The fire service, which declared a major incident on Monday, said there were 42 residents at flood-hit Proctors Park - 19 of whom chose to evacuate
In total, crews have rescued 59 people and evacuated 209 homes in the county
Temperatures are set to dip below freezing, with cold weather set to continue until Friday
Meanwhile, East Midlands Ambulance Service declared its first ever critical incident, partly due to demand caused by the flooding

Live Reporting

Edited by Alex Smith

Ratby 'cut off' by floodingpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Hannah Richardson
Local Democracy Reporting Service
The main roads in and out of Ratby in Leicestershire were shut by flooding today, with both Desford Lane and Station Road impassable.
Only Sacheverell Way was open, leaving the village "gridlocked", said Ratby councillor Ozzy O'Shea, who is also Leicestershire County Council's lead member for highways.
O'Shea has raised concerns over homebuilding in the village, saying new homes planned in the area will worsen flooding in the years to come.
Image source, Ozzy O'Shea
Church opens doors to people affected by floodspublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Dan Martin
BBC News
Image source, Google
St Peter's and St Paul's Church in Syston, Leicestershire, has opened its doors to people affected by flooding - offering them hot drinks and a warm and dry space to go.
The town has been affected by flooding throughout the day.
Confused picture at railway stationpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Rob Sissons
Reporter, East Midlands Today
There's quite a confused picture at London's St Pancras International station, as big queues of railway customers are awaiting information on their delayed or cancelled trains.
Heavy rain has flooded the railway on various routes, with East Midlands Railway (EMR) saying it will run a reduced timetable as a result.
The following routes are affected:
- Sheffield/Nottingham/London
- Newark/Nottingham/Derby/Crewe
- Matlock/Derby/Nottingham
- Liverpool Lime Street/Nottingham/Norwich
- Nottingham/Grantham/Skegness
The rail operator has told passengers due to travel today that they could use the same ticket tomorrow instead.
Alternatively, it says the following operators are currently accepting EMR tickets:
- CrossCountry: Between Nottingham and Derby (CrossCountry will divert on this route where possible), between Derby and Birmingham and between Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent
- Thameslink: Between London St Pancras and Bedford and between London Kings Cross and Peterborough
- London Underground
- London North Western Railway: Between London Euston and Crewe/Stoke-on-Trent
- Greater Anglia: Between Peterborough and Norwich and between London Liverpool Street and Norwich
- London North Eastern Railway: Between London Kings Cross and Doncaster/Leeds
- TransPennine Express: Between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Victoria, between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield, between Sheffield and Cleethorpes, between Leeds and Manchester Victoria and between Leeds and Liverpool Lime Street
- Northern: Between Sheffield and Doncaster, between Manchester and Liverpool and between Sheffield and Leeds
- Avanti West Coast: Between London Euston and Manchester/Liverpool Lime Street
Sandbag collections available for Amber Valley residentspublished at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Jude Winter
BBC News
Amber Valley Borough Council has released a list of sandbag collection points for residents as a "precautionary measure".
Here are where they are located:
- Danesby Rise Play Area, Denby
- Moorlands Road Recreation Ground, Ambergate
- Queen Street Recreation Ground, Langley Mill
- Bridge Street Car Park, Belper
- Duffield Library Car Park, Duffield
- Ironville Recreation Ground, Ironville
Listen: Rescue total rises in Leicestershirepublished at 15:44 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
BBC Radio Leicester
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has told the BBC it has rescued 56 people from flooding in the county today.
This morning, it declared a major incident due to widespread flooding across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Judi Beresford, assistant chief fire and rescue officer, said: "The risk to lives and to properties during flooding is significant, so we would ask for members of the public to help us in this by being careful about what they do and not entering into flood water."
'Earlier we were an island'published at 15:30 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Sian Filcher
BBC News, Derby
Markeaton Brook has flooded in the north of Derby, leaving some residents with gardens underwater.
A resident of Lens Road in Allestree said her conservatory had a layer of water in it earlier this morning.
She said: "When we get 24 hours of rain, this is what happens every time.
"Earlier this morning we were an island, we couldn't get out."
Firefighters rescue person from car in flood waterpublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Dan Martin
BBC News
Image source, Stapleford Fire Station
Firefighters were called to help a motorist trapped in flood water in Derbyshire earlier.
A crew from Stapleford Fire Station attended Derby Road in Risley, where a person was led to safety from a car.
The fire service urged people not to drive through flooded areas.
Nearly 100 flood warnings remain in placepublished at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Dan Martin
BBC News
Image source, Environment Agency
The Environment Agency says nearly 100 flood warnings remain in place across the East Midlands.
That means that flooding is expected in affected areas, so people should take immediate action to protect themselves and their property.
There are also more than 100 flood alerts and in those areas, people should be prepared for rising flood water.
Some warnings have been lifted throughout Monday, but the agency said it would "closely monitor" the situation overnight.
The agency said water levels for the River Derwent in Derby reached a height of 2.09m (6.85ft), and was rising at 14:15 on Monday.
The River Soar at Littlethorpe, in Leicestershire, reached 2.7m (8.86ft) and was also rising.
At Colwick, near Nottingham, the River Trent reached a height of 3.82m (12.53ft) on Monday afternoon with the level still rising, the agency added.
Drone footage shows scale of flooding in Leicestershirepublished at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Chris Waring
BBC News
Drone footage has captured the scale of flooding across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland following heavy rainfall on Sunday evening.
The aerial footage shows abandoned cars and roads completely engulfed by water.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident this morning in response to widespread flooding across the area.
School closed as staff struggle with floodspublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Dan Martin
BBC News
Brookvale Groby Learning Campus in Leicestershire is closed today.
Head teacher Will Teece said not enough staff were able to reach the school, in Ratby Road.
He said: "I have over 30 staff unable to get to school, some stuck in traffic, some unable to get out of their areas due to road closures and floods.
"This is clearly not the way we would have liked to start the term but we sadly have no other choice."
Image source, Google
'Three weeks of rainfall in 24 hours'published at 14:59 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Isaac Ashe
BBC News, East Midlands
Weather man Phil Morrish told BBC Radio Leicester his Mountsorrel station had seen the amount of rain we would expect in about three weeks at this time of year - in the space of 24 hours.
Trentbarton says some bus services disruptedpublished at 14:53 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Isaac Ashe
BBC News, East Midlands
Bus operator Trentbarton has said some of its services are affected by the "difficult road conditions" drivers are experiencing.
The Skylink Nottingham service is only running to East Midlands Airport, and not serving Shepshed and Coalville in Leicestershire.
Flooding in Risley, Derbyshire, will mean the i4 between Nottingham and Derby will divert along Bostocks Lane, the A52 and Cole Lane.
And the V3 is missing the stops from Repton Cross to High Street in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, due to flooding between Repton and Newton Solney.
Clean-up on the A606 under waypublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Olimpia Zagnat
BBC News Online
A clean-up operation is under way on the A606 after cars got stuck in flood water.
Rutland County Council advised motorists earlier that the road was closed at Langham and Aswell Road.
The BBC's Tim Parker, who is at the scene, says drivers were "stranded in what was clearly a flash flood".
Advice issued as major incident declaredpublished at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Olimpia Zagnat
BBC News Online
After declaring a major incident earlier, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service has issued advice to residents and motorists.
It said if people were experiencing flooding at their properties:
- Implement your flood action plan
- Keep every person and animal safe
- Move any important documents upstairs to a first floor
- Sandbags may be provided by your local council; in the event this is not the case, a local builder's yard can normally help
- Turn off electricity, gas, and water
- Take photos of any flood damage
- Sign up for free flood alerts in your local area, if you haven't already
- Contact your insurance provider who can help you further
- Check on vulnerable neighbours and see if they require further assistance
Drivers have also been advised to plan their journeys before travelling.
The fire service added: "If you see a flood blocking your route, turn around and find an alternative way. Flood water is often deeper than you think.
"If you do get stuck and it's an emergency, call 999 and contact your car insurance provider and recovery service if required."
Main road in village shutpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Navtej Johal
Midlands correspondent
The main road in Lambley, Nottinghamshire, has been closed after heavy rain - although the flooding is now receding.
It is not the only road in the village that is shut today in the village.
Main Street and Church Street are also closed, with more rain expected later at 19:00.
Flood warnings lifted in parts of Leicestershirepublished at 14:18 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Dan Martin
BBC News
Flood warnings some covering parts of Leicester and Leicestershire have been lifted.
The Environment Agency said warnings had been removed in the following areas:
- Lubbesthorpe and Thorpe Astley Brooks at Braunstone Town
- Thurnby Brook and Bushby Brook in Leicester
- Grace Dieu Brook at Whitwick and Thringstone
- Wood Brook, south of Derby Road, in Loughborough
- Sileby Brook in Sileby
An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "River levels have now fallen below the flood risk threshold.
"There is no longer a threat of flooding, though standing water and debris may still remain. We continue to monitor the situation."
Image source, Alice
A50 back open near M1, police saypublished at 14:12 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Isaac Ashe
BBC News, East Midlands
Leicestershire Police has said that the A50, from junction 22 of the M1 towards Markfield, is no longer blocked by flooding.
A38 in Derbyshire reopens to trafficpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Isaac Ashe
BBC News, East Midlands
In Derbyshire, better news as the A38 has now reopened northbound, between the A50 at Findern and the A5111 at Mickleover.
Paddleboarding in a supermarket car parkpublished at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
While flooding has caused disruption for many, one couple in Leicestershire used it as an opportunity to go paddleboarding.
Reece Wilson went to Morrisons in Glenfield to do some shopping, but discovered the car park was submerged so "decided to go home, blow the paddleboard up and go have a bit of fun".
Image source, Reece Wilson
He and his girlfriend, Shawna Mann, floated around the car park and even helped to retrieve three stranded cars.
"They had been parked overnight and the owners couldn't get to them, so they gave me the keys and I drove them out," explained Reece.
"I paddled to one but the others I walked to with my wellies on."
Image source, Reece Wilson
Trains now able to run north of Derby - East Midlands Railwaypublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 6 January
Isaac Ashe
BBC News, East Midlands
Trains are now able to run north of Derby to Sheffield, said East Midlands Railway.
However, the line south remains flooded, between the city and Long Eaton, it added.
Passengers are asked to travel on alternative routes to and from London, and tickets dated for today will be valid tomorrow.