As it happened: Flooding in the East Midlands

Summary

Heavy rain causes flooding disruption across the region
The Environment Agency issues multiple flood warnings
Three severe weather warnings are issued for Derby
Firefighters have rescued more than 100 people in Derbyshire
Homes have also been evacuated in Edwinstowe, Stapleford and Lowdham
Several roads across the region have been affected

Live Reporting

Samantha Noble, Gavin Bevis and Tom Oakley

Chesterfield College closes due to weather conditionspublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
Chesterfield College has closed its campus due to flooding in the town.
Officials said they asked students and staff to make their way home at 10:30 BST.
Image source, Google
A spokesman said: "With the heavy rain set to continue and an amber weather warning in place for Derbyshire, we have taken this decision to close early with the safety of students and staff in mind.
"Those due in for lessons this afternoon should not come in and your tutor will be in touch with details of tasks to work on from home."
The campus will be fully closed by 13:15, they added.
Minster School in Southwell closes earlypublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
The Minster School in Southwell has closed early due to rising flood water in Nottingham Road, which is outside the school and is now shut.
The school has been making arrangements for buses to collect pupils and take them home.
However, the bus companies have said they are unable to get through to Caythorpe or Hoveringham, so they will take pupils as far as they can.
Ashford-in-the-Water is getting more waterypublished at 11:53 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Water levels are rising in the Derbyshire village of Ashford-in-the-Water, which is next to the River Wye.
Derbyshire Dales District Council has asked people to check the latest flooding advice on its website, external.
Image source, Derbyshire Dales District Council
Leicestershire volunteer urges vigilancepublished at 11:44 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
The Environment Agency has issued a number of flood alerts for areas across Leicestershire.
They are all near rivers, including along the River Sence, the River Wreake, Loughborough urban watercourses Grace Dieu Brook, the Upper Soar catchment and the Rothley and Quorn Brook.
Image source, PA Media
Nigel Spencer is part of the volunteer 4x4 responders who cover Leicestershire, rescuing vehicles stuck in the water.
He said: "Just remember that anywhere that's low-lying is likely to have standing water.
"It doesn't have to be in a valley - it can be on the top of a hill - all it takes is a blocked drain and you can have two feet of standing water on a hillside."
Sandbags put up outside shops in townpublished at 11:33 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Businesses in Matlock in Derbyshire have been preparing for flooding by putting sandbags outside their premises.
Mobile Lab, a mobile phone repair shop in Causeway Lane, has been flooded in the past.
"The most recent flooding, a few months back, that's when it was the worst," said manager Luke Cheney.
"It came up quite high and completely wrecked the whole shop and we were here at 2am having to get everything out, clean everything. We had to hire an industrial vacuum to suck up all the water.
"It's stressful."
Public transport hit by flooded roadspublished at 11:19 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
Among the services being affected by the rainfall are local buses.
Trent Barton has confirmed flooding at Risley Hall means all i4 Derby services are diverting between Bostocks Lane and Cole Lane in Borrowash.
The i4 to Derby is missing all stops between First Avenue and Cole Lane.
The i4 to Nottingham is missing all stops between Borrowash medical centre and Friesland School.
National Trust properties in Derbyshire closedpublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
The National Trust has closed some of its sites in the region.
Calke Abbey, Kedleston Hall and Hardwick Hall, which are all in Derbyshire, have been closed due to heavy rain and flooding around the parkland.
Image source, National Trust Images/Dennis Gilbert
Open water swimming sessions cancelledpublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Open water swimming sessions at Spring Lakes in Long Eaton have been cancelled today because of the weather, but they're expected to be on again tomorrow.
There's currently heavy rain in Long Eaton, but according to BBC Weather, there will be only light rain and wind tomorrow.
East Midlands Railway services affectedpublished at 11:01 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
East Midlands Railway (EMR) has posted on X, external, formerly Twitter, about heavy rain flooding the tracks.
Several services have been affected, including routes from Sheffield and Derby to London St Pancras, Crewe-Nottingham-Newark, and Nottingham-Derby-Matlock.
Customers have been advised that they can use their EMR ticket tomorrow.
Heavy flooding closes A46published at 10:53 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
Leicestershire Police has fully shut the A46 - from the A6006 to Six Hills.
Drivers have been urged to find alternative routes.
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Businesses and homes braced for floodingpublished at 10:49 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
Businesses in Matlock are bracing themselves for very high river levels on the River Derwent as heavy rain is expected for the rest of the day and into Saturday morning.
Derbyshire Dales District Council issued a warning last night telling people not to underestimate how serious an impact it's likely to have on the usual at-risk flood areas.
Up to 100mm of rain is forecast in the 18 hours from Friday morning.
'Don't go and risk your lives'published at 10:40 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
The Environment Agency has warned people across Derbyshire to stay at home if they can as heavy rain brings surface and river flooding to large parts of the area.
Flood wardens like councillor Steve Wain have been deployed to try and manage the situation.
He is currently going door-to-door to warn residents about the incoming heavy rainfall and potential localised flooding it may bring.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "The water is going to come and we can do nothing about it but prepare people.
"We all need to act with caution and don't act blasé about it. Don't go and risk your lives."
Flooding in the East Midlands: What we know so farpublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Storm Babet is causing disruption and flooding across the East Midlands region, but Derbyshire seems to be the worst county affected.
Derbyshire Dales District Council has warned the River Derwent - which flows through Derbyshire all the way from Ladybower Reservoir to the River Trent - "could easily be as high" as serious floods in 2019 and 2022.
In other news:
- We've received numerous reports of cars being stuck on flooded roads, including two cars left stranded in deep water under the A52 bridge along Wyaston Road and Tutbury Hollow, near Ashbourne.
- Police have closed roads in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire - including the A52 eastbound at Bardills Island
- Several flood warnings are in place, such as for the River Erewash at Ilkeston, Pinxton and Langley Mill, and the Bushby Brook at Thurnby in Leicester
- Environment Agency river level forecasts show the River Derwent through Matlock was due to rise to 4.91m (16.1ft) - nearly double its normal upper range of 2.5m (8.2ft)
- An amber warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of Derbyshire, meaning there is a risk to life
Flood warnings issued in the regionpublished at 10:14 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
The Environment Agency has released dozens of flood warnings, external nationally - with several affecting the East Midlands.
The warning - meaning flooding is expected - has been issued for several parts of Derbyshire, including the River Erewash at Ilkeston, Langley Mill and Pinxton.
Elsewhere in the region, there are flood warnings for the River Leen in Bulwell, Old Basford, Bobbers Mill and Radford, as well as the River Maun at Sherwood Forest Holiday Park near Kings Clipstone.
The Bushby Brook at Thurnby in Leicester and the Grace Dieu Brook at Whitwick and Thringstone are also at risk of flooding.
Train journeys affectedpublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Network Rail has warned the weather is affecting its services in the East Midlands but said its teams were responding "as quickly as possible".
Image source, Network Rail
A tree fell on the tracks in the Wingfield area of Derbyshire but has now been removed.
Passengers have been advised to check their journeys before travelling.
Storm Babet: Heavy rain and flooding hits the East Midlandspublished at 09:55 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
Good morning all,
Storm Babet is currently battering England, which is in turn causing disruption in the East Midlands with numerous road closures already reported.
Follow this page for updates throughout the day with disruption set to continue.