Live updates: East of England weather alert warns of flooding

Summary

A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place between 12:00 GMT on Thursday and 03:00 on Friday for much of England, including the east
Forecasters are warning that rain falling on already saturated ground could lead to flooding and travel disruption
Trees fell on houses and cars in Essex and Suffolk, and one van driver had a lucky escape in flood water, following Storm Henk
The Environment Agency had 238 warnings in place for England as of 10:15, including for the River Nene in Northamptonshire where flooding is expected

Live Reporting

Written by Louise Parry. Edited by Peter Walker

Goodnightpublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
We are wrapping up our live coverage for the night.
The yellow weather warning for rain and flooding remains in place until 03:00 GMT on Friday, and the Environment Agency has 220 live flood alerts and warnings; including many in our region.
The emergency response and evacuation at Billing Aquadrome in Northampton was stood down on Wednesday night, but agencies there are warning of more flooding to come.
Thank you for joining us today and please stay safe.
Image source, Met Office
River floods people's gardenspublished at 17:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Back gardens have been flooded after a river burst its banks.
The River Great Ouse overflowed in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.
It could swell further as more heavy rain is forecast overnight.
Image source, Dawid Wojtowicz/BBC
Image source, Dawid Wojtowicz/BBC
Image caption,
The River Great Ouse overflowed the banks at Newport Pagnell and crept up into people's back gardens
'More disruption on its way'published at 17:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Authorities in Northamptonshire say the emergency response at Billing Aquadrome, which was deluged by the River Nene, was stood down at about 21:20 GMT on Wednesday.
But residents are being told the Nene, Tove and River Great Ouse continue to swell and the potential of flooding remains.
A spokesperson for the Northamptonshire Local Resilience Forum - made up council officers and emergency responders - said: "There is likely to be further flood disruption over the coming days."
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Billing Aquadrome residents were told to evacuate from their mobile homes this week.
Determined dog walkerspublished at 17:45 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Laura Foster
BBC News, in Bedford
Here in Bedford the River Great Ouse splits in two and there’s usually a boating lake in the middle.
But today the river has burst its banks and now there is just one big mass of water with benches and footpaths submerged in it.
Earlier I was warning dog walkers who had waded in up to their wellies that it wouldn’t be safe for them to venture any further - even if they were carrying their dogs in their arms.
The water is moving so quickly, it is actually very loud - and the concern is any more heavy rain will cause problems not only here, but further down the river for places such as St Neots.
Image source, Laura Foster/BBC
Image caption,
This dog walker reluctantly turned away from the flood water after persuasion from our reporter
Fire crew rescues person in mobility scooterpublished at 17:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Laura Foster
BBC News, Bedford
A Bedfordshire fire crew has just rescued a person after their mobility scooter became stuck in flood water.
It happened on a footpath where the water was ankle deep in Bedford.
The person is said to be doing OK but the ambulance service is here and has given the individual a thermal blanket.
Fire fighters told the BBC this incident demonstrated why people shouldn’t venture into floodwater.
Road closures cause disruptionpublished at 17:29 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Cambridgeshire County Council says the following roads are shut:
- Main Street, Hamerton
- New Road, Woodwalton
- Bridge Street, Wistow
- Infield Road, Glatton
- High Street, Offord D'Arcy
- B1040 East Delph, Whittlesey
- A1123 Bridge Road, Earith
Deja vu for retired lorry driverpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
John Lathrope said he witnessed similar flooding at Priory Country Park in Bedford once before about "five or six" years ago.
However, the retired lorry driver said he had never seen the local Longholme cafe forced to shut before.
"You can't get anywhere on that side of the river," said the 86-year-old.
Shop assistant Paula Sage, 47, went on: "It's the worst I've seen it for a long time."
Image source, Brian Farmer/BBC
Image caption,
John Lathrope, pictured over the footbridge at Priory Country Park, has lived in the area for about 13 years
Floodboards 'to protect properties'published at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Specially designed floodboards have been installed to protect a cemetery at Benwick in Cambridgeshire.
Middle Level Commissoners wrote that the boards were also installed "as a precaution" to "protect local properties", external.
MLC manages water courses in the Fens.
Image source, Middle Level Commissioners
Image source, Mid Level Commissioners
Image caption,
The floodboards are have been installed to protect properties and a local cemetery
Flood trouble at t'Millpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
This was the scene at Marlingford Mill, near Norwich, earlier.
Flood water was up to 2ft (60cm) deep in places. Some drivers turned round, but others opted to press on.
Image source, Andrew Sinclair / BBC
'The worst I've ever seen'published at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Retired teacher Janet Bowler said she was "quite shocked" at the scale of flooding in Priory Country Park in Bedford.
The 67-year-old could not cross the river walkway or walk along the riverside to access a local supermarket.
"Bedford is used to flooding but this is the worst it has been for some time," she said.
Image source, Brian Farmer/BBC
Image caption,
Janet Bowler was taking bags of recycling to a nearby supermarket
Landslip closes railway stationpublished at 16:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Trains are unable to call at Arlesey station in Bedfordshire following a landslip, according to rail operator Thameslink.
The company said the landslip was "near the railway".
It said passengers could still travel from the St Neots direction, but trains coming northbound from Stevenage could not call at Arlesey.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
Thameslink said northbound trains could not stop at Arlesey due to a landslip
Car stuck as river overflowspublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
The River Great Ouse has also flooded in Harrold, Bedfordshire.
The bridge is currently closed because of flooding on the causeway.
A car has become stuck on Carlton Road.
A local resident said: "There’s the usual diversions in place, as it’s known for flooding, but the water is very high at the moment."
Cafe’s flood defences ‘holding firm’published at 15:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
A cafe that was wrecked by floods in 2020 is coping with “serious flooding”, thanks to new defences.
The Longholme in Bedford sits between the River Great Ouse and boating lake, and is currently completely cut off by water.
Manager Thomas Healey said although the cafe was closed “until further notice”, the barrier systems bought after the 2020 floods “are mostly holding firm”.
He said they were "generally very happy" with the flood defences compared with the sandbags they tried in 2020, which did not work.
But he hopes the waters will recede soon. “Our priority is to open again and get food out," he said.
Image source, Thomas Healey
Image caption,
Longholme Cafe's flood defences are "holding firm"
Image source, Thomas Healey
Image caption,
The Longholme Cafe, next to the boathouse and river in Bedford, is completely cut off by floodwater
Flood water 'deeper than it looks', council warnspublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
A council has posted a warning to the public on social media to avoid flood water.
Central Bedfordshire Council, external shared aerial footage of flooded fields."Do not attempt to drive, cycle or walk through flood water - it can be deeper than it looks," the council said.
It advised people to check before travelling, with more heavy rain predicted.
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More than 250 calls for fire servicepublished at 14:36 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
The fire service control room in Essex received 250 calls between 13:00 GMT and 20:00 on Tuesday during Storm Henk.
Managers there initially counted 110 calls, but have since taken a closer look at the call log.
Trees fell into houses and cars that afternoon.
Residents will be braced for the heavy rainfall tonight.
Image source, Stuart Woodward/BBC
Image caption,
A tree fell on to a house in Second Avenue in West Thurrock
Image source, Stuart Woodward/BBC
Image caption,
Sandra Jones was nearby when a tree fell on to her neighbour's car in Cabborns Crescent, Stanford le Hope
River bursts its bankspublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Aerial photos show the extent of flooding in Bedford after the River Great Ouse burst its banks.
The river has merged with the boating lake at The Embankment following heavy rainfall during Storm Henk.
More rain is expected this afternoon and overnight in the area.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
The River Great Ouse and boating lake have become one as the river burst its banks
Image source, Reuters
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
The Butterfly Bridge footpath in Bedford disappears into flood water
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
These picnic benches beside the River Great Ouse in Bedford will be out of action for a little while
Image source, Cagey Bee/BBC Weather Watchers.
Image caption,
Parts of Bedford have been cut off by the rising river
Image source, ThelceMan/BBC Weather Watchers.
Image caption,
Further upstream at Clapham in Bedford the river has also flooded surrounding land
Commuters braced for delayspublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Rail operator Greater Anglia has warned there could be disruption to its services this afternoon because of the rain being forecast.
Passengers are asked to check its website before travelling, external.
Image source, Greater Anglia
Road closure after flooding risk to carspublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Emergency services closed Whimpwell Street in Happisburgh, Norfolk, after it became submerged.
There is a particular risk to vehicles as the flooded road borders a duck pond, and cars could end up rolling into it.
Stuart Herd, station manager at Great Yarmouth, said the pond was “about five to 6ft (1.8m) deep, so people would be in difficulties if the car tipped onto its side or roof”.
He said there was “no demarcation” between the duck pond and the flooded street.
Mr Herd said while “some people are disgruntled about having to take a different route”, locals had been “really compliant” about the road closure.
Image source, Andrew Turner/BBC
Image caption,
The flooded part of Whimpell Street, Happisburgh, borders a deep duck pond
Image source, Andrew Turner/BBC
Image caption,
It is thought the flooding was caused by blocked drains following heavy rain
'Lucky escape' for van driverpublished at 12:46 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Firefighters said a man's van was "swept away" at a ford in Sible Hedingham, in north Essex, and by the looks of this image, things could have been more serious for the driver.
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the motorist had a "lucky escape".
Image source, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Flood warnings for England's riverspublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
The Environment Agency has 227 flood alerts in place for England.
Flooding is expected at various locations near Northampton and Peterborough.
Warnings are also in place for the River Yare near Norwich and at King's Lynn.
Image source, Environment Agency