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

Temporary shelter set up at sports centrepublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
An emergency rest centre has been set up at Queen’s Park Sports Centre in Boythorpe Road, Chesterfield, for those who have been evacuated from their property.
Earlier Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said it had rescued about 60 people from homes and businesses in the area.
Chesterfield Borough Council leader Tricia Gilby said: "This is a major incident affecting large parts of the borough, including the town centre and Chatsworth Road areas.
“All agencies are working together to protect residents and businesses, but this is a challenging and quickly evolving situation."
'Do not drive or go near flood water'published at 19:18 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Samantha Noble
BBC News
Derbyshire Dales District Council has asked people to not drive or go near floodwater after a major incident was declared.
The council said flood warnings were in place throughout the area, external.
Image source, Derbyshire Dales District Council
Image source, Derbyshire Dales District Council
Image source, Derbyshire Dales District Council
What has happened in the East Midlands so far?published at 19:00 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Samantha Noble
BBC News
Heavy rain and flooding are continuing to cause disruption across the region.
- Firefighters have rescued 60 people from flooded properties in Chesterfield
- Derbyshire County Council has declared the flooding a "major incident" and warned people against non-essential travel
- East Midlands Railway has said most routes are closed
- Numerous roads across the region, including the A52, A1 and A46, have been closed due to flooding
- More rain is expected this evening and overnight, with emergency services meeting to discuss their plans
Animals rescued from flooded pet shoppublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Amy Phipps
BBC News
Staff working at Pets at Home in Chesterfield have removed animals from the store after flooding forced them to close.
The flood water at Ravenside Retail Park was waist-deep at about 13:30 BST.
Image source, Zara Dane
The Vets4Pets service that operates inside the store said on Facebook: "Due to severe flooding we have had to close the practice.
"We will not be able to resume service this weekend."
Image source, Zara Dane
Major roads across region hit by floodingpublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
This is how the A1 looked between Newark and Grantham this afternoon.
Nottinghamshire County Council has a list of county roads affected by flooding here, external.
Image source, Newark and Sherwood District Council
Most East Midlands Railway routes closedpublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Samantha Noble
BBC News Online
East Midlands Railway has said most routes are closed due to heavy rainfall and flooding.
A spokesman said there were "limited services" on the open routes.
He added: "We advise you delay travel until tomorrow. EMR tickets for today will be accepted on Saturday 21 October.
"Rail replacement options are extremely limited, with roads flooded and buses/taxis unavailable to assist us.
"We cannot guarantee you can complete your journey if you start travelling tonight."
Image source, EMR
Watch: Woman in wheelchair rescued from floodpublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Thorp
BBC News
A woman in a wheelchair was among residents who were rescued from a flooded village.
Firefighters were called to Lowdham in Nottinghamshire where they helped several residents into a rescue boat.
The Environment Agency has issued multiple flood warnings and people in affected areas have been advised not to travel if they can avoid it.
Mansfield Town match in doubtpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
George Torr
BBC News
Mansfield Town will hold a pitch inspection at 09:00 BST on Saturday before their scheduled Sky Bet League Two fixture against Forest Green Rovers.
The area around the One Call Stadium has experienced torrential rain since the early hours of the morning, the club said.
Image source, Getty Images
Supporters will be informed of the outcome of the pitch inspection at the "earliest opportunity", the club added.
Fire service says 60 people rescued in Bramptonpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service says it has now rescued about 60 people from flooded homes and businesses in the Brampton area of Chesterfield.
Incident commander Mark King said residents had been moved to a nearby rest centre set up by the county council.
He said water levels in Brampton were currently receding but fire officers would be at the scene for several more hours.
'It's like the Titanic'published at 17:21 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Tonia Waring, landlady of The Bridge in Ashbourne in Derbyshire, said she had seen "thousands of pounds wash away".
"It's like the Titanic, it's so deep. The cellar is completely up to the roof," she said.
She said other parts of the pub were waist deep in water.
"I've been in the pub trade for seven years in Ashbourne and I've had a few things that's tried to knock me down but I think this is probably the worst," she said.
"There's no point dwelling on it, we'll come back and it will all be good."
Major incident declared in Derbyshirepublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Gavin Bevis
BBC News
Derbyshire County Council has declared the flooding a "major incident" and warned people in the county not to travel if it is not essential.
The authority has also urged residents to look out for vulnerable neighbours.
Residents surprised at speed of floodingpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Liz Roberts
BBC News
There’s been a steady stream of rescues since I arrived in Brampton, Derbyshire, this afternoon.
People have been trapped in their homes having been surprised by the rapidly rising flood waters from the River Rother.
Although it’s flooded here before it’s been many years since it’s been this deep, and for most people I’ve spoken to this is the first time they’ve experienced anything like this
Village houses and road floodedpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
Severe flooding has also been reported in the Nottinghamshire village of Cossall.
Image source, Mat Sirrell
Pictures show a road beneath a bridge completely swamped and a large property that has been inundated.
Image source, Mat Sirrell
Some residents have been pictured putting sandbags across their doors.
Nottinghamshire County Council confirmed Coronation Road in the village was shut but it is unclear if any of the support agencies are on site.
Saturated ground putting water on roads - fire servicepublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
Jonathan Holford, group manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said staff were "extremely busy".
"We are deploying crews in pockets all over the county particularly the small villages like Lowdham, Woodborough and as far as Bleasby, then up to places like Worksop and Retford," he said.
"The main issue that we are facing is because we have had continuous rain, the drains are full but that is being compounded by the soft ground like fields and verges which are saturated.
"So water is now making its way from those areas on to the main roads and we are seeing a lot of flooding on the main arterial routes like the A60, A614, the A52."
Image source, Mat Sirrell
He confirmed they were responding to a lot of calls involving vehicles stuck in water and appealed to drivers not to risk going through standing water.
Four people rescued from roof of vehiclepublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Firefighters have rescued four people who were trapped on the roof of a vehicle in Trowell in Nottinghamshire.
They've warned people not to drive through flood water and advised not to travel unless necessary.
Image source, Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue
Flooding in the East Midlands: What's happened so far?published at 16:25 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Caroline Lowbridge
BBC News
Heavy rain and flooding are continuing to cause disruption across the region.
- Homes have been flooded and firefighters have rescued 20 people from their homes in Chesterfield
- Numerous roads across the region, including the A52, A1 and A46, have been closed due to the flooding
- Derbyshire County Council's director of highways said staff have had more than 200 alerts to flooded roads
- Lots of businesses have been forced to close, with some of their premises flooded
- More rain is expected this evening and overnight, and emergency services are meeting to discuss their plans
Emergency road closures in Rutlandpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
Adverse weather conditions have caused severe flooding on some of Rutland’s highways, prompting the county council to introduce emergency road closures for:
- Main Street, Whissendine
- A606 Melton Road, Langham
The council said it would provide more updates as the situation changes.
Police shut the A1 in Nottinghamshire due to floodingpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Smith
BBC News Online
Nottinghamshire Police has shut the A1 southbound, between Newark and Grantham, due to flooding and a broken down vehicle.
National Highways is also at the scene, with motorists urged to avoid the area.
Watch: Severe flooding hits the East Midlandspublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Alex Thorp
BBC News
Homes, roads and businesses have been flooded as heavy rain continues to hit large parts of the East Midlands.
Cossall, Lambley and Mansfield were some of the worst affected locations in Nottinghamshire, while Baslow in the Peak District was also flooded.
Water levels rise outside business parkpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 20 October 2023
Samantha Noble
BBC News Online
Some workers in Asher Lane Business Park in Ripley have left early for the day due to flooding.
Asher Lane is impassable to cars and the water levels keep rising.
One business owner has had to move his car off site and park it on a hill so he can get home later.
Image source, Supplied
Image source, Supplied