Summary

  • Heavy rainfall has resulted in flooding in parts of the East of England

  • A major incident is declared in Suffolk, with warnings flood levels could rise further

  • A yellow warning for wind is active until 12:00 on Saturday

  • Multiple flood warnings are in places around the East of England

  • Framlingham is among the worst-hit areas

  • About 30 people spent the night at Debenham leisure centre after being forced to leave their homes

  • Large parts of Ipswich are without water, with other parts of the town facing low pressure on supplies

Live Reporting

Rachael McMenemy and Shariqua Ahmed

  1. 'Heartbreaking' being cut off from car

    Emma Baugh
    BBC Look East

    Claire Goddard in front of her carEmma Baugh/BBC

    Claire Goddard, from Sweffling, says it was "heart-breaking" to see her car under water in Framlingham

    Ms Goddard was at a doctor's appointment and when she returned 45 minutes later, the car park was flooded with "no way to get to the car".

    She says: "I didn't know what to do. It started to rain heavily so I went to The Crown and had a coffee, hoping it would get better, but it didn't.

    "I realised I had been cut off from everything and it was heart-breaking."

    The inside of Ms Goddard's Mini is full of water.Claire Goddard

    Claire Goddard says her car is write-off after it flooded in a car park while she was at a doctor's appointment

    She says lots of people who sought refuge in the pub were in a similar situation, including a woman in her 80s.

    Ms Goddard, whose car is ruined, says she is hoping the community "pulls together and helps each other out on getting their lives back on track".

  2. Community centre open to help people without water

    In Ipswich, problems with a lack of water have led to the Castle Hill Community Centre opening up to help.

    Gareth, who works at the centre, says they're opening up the centre for a few hours to help people keep warm.

    He says there was a worry that without water some people might not be able to put boilers on, or even make a cup of tea.

    "The flooding was quite extensive. The community centre is at the heart of north west Ipswich so we're just trying to help the people of north west Ipswich," he says.

  3. 'Frightening' floods shut businesses

    Ahmet Dagelen is wearing a yellow and black rain coat, standing inside his barber shop. He has a mop in one hand.Jamie Niblock/BBC

    BBC cameraman Jamie Niblock has been out talking to people affected by the floods in Framlingham.

    Ahmet Dagelen spent the morning mopping up his barber's shop in the town.

    By noon yesterday, his shop started to flood despite the use of sandbags to try to stem the flow of water.

    "We just gave up, after an hour my shop was full of water, it was one-metre deep. It's destroyed," he says.

    Ahmet is crouched down in the floodwater in his bare feet trying to suction off some of the flood water.Jamie Niblock/BBC

    How long will the clear-up take?

    "It's going to be about two or three weeks, I need to get some experts in to check the flooring and electrics," he says.

    "Obviously it was frightening, you work hard to build up a business and just one day, out of nowhere you get all these floods and lose your business."

  4. Flood warnings in place

    There are 24 flood warnings and 37 flood alerts in place across the East of England.

    The Environment Agency is advising that people do not attempt to drive through flood water.

    A map of the east of England showing flood warnings and flood alertsEnvironment Agency

  5. In pictures: Flooding across the East of England

    The worst of the flooding has hit Suffolk but across the East of England some towns and villages have also been affected.

    A car stuck in flood water in Wraplingham in NorfolkAndrew Sinclair/BBC

    In Wramplingham in Norfolk a lot of flood water remains with some cars partially submerged.

    Flooded road and field in Colton, NorfolkAndrew Sinclair/BBC

    Colton, in Norfolk, is also dealing with flooded roads

    Flooded garage in St IvesMichael Burke

    A garage in St Ives, Cambridgeshire has been flooded

  6. Woman thanks stranger for kindness

    Nina Galley selfie taken in her carNina Galley

    A woman has told how she had to stay with strangers after being left stranded by floodwater.

    Nina Galley, 22, says she is "relieved" to finally be back after more than 24 hours away from home in Debenham.

    She has thanked a family in Clopton who opened their home to her and made sure she was dry and safe for the night.

    Ms Galley was at work in Martlesham when she was informed of worsening weather. She left work early but became stranded in Clopton.

    She says: "I spoke to a few people standing on the side of the road and they told me there's no way I can get into Clopton.

    "One of them... invited me to her house and gave me a cup of tea."

    Neighbours offered a space to park her car and a pair of wellies for the treacherous conditions.

    "I can't thank them enough for such a caring gesture."

    She said it was lovely to see the "community spirit".

    Flooded roads in Clopton, SuffolkNina Galley

    Flooding in roads in Clopton meant Nina Galley became stranded and had to rely on the kindness of strangers to find a safe place to spend the night

  7. Man forced to sleep in stranded car

    We've been hearing some of your stories on BBC radio this morning.

    Teacher Pete was trying to get to Norwich from Canvey Island in Essex at about 15:30BST but got stranded in Mendlesham in Suffolk and had to sleep in his car.

    He finally made it home just before 06:50 this morning to feed some very hungry cats.

    He says: "I got caught on the A140. I gave up about midnight because there was a recovery truck that had broken down trying to tow someone else.

    "The water has gone down a bit this morning but it still looks quite nasty."

    He says he is so grateful to two men who came out to try to help drivers find the best route home.

  8. Relief centre 'overwhelmed' by community support

    Vikki Irwin
    BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

    Trevor Coulson, centre manger. He is in the hall with an inflatable bed in the background.Vikki Irwin/BBC

    Trevor Coulson, manager at the Debenham leisure centre, says the community response has been "overwhelming".

    About 30 people took shelter at the centre overnight after Storm Babet flooded properties and blocked roads.

    He says: "When the first responders came, the place was full and in the end we had 30 people who spent the night here.

    "But the community response all through the night continued. We asked people if they could help with anything such as bedding, blankets and we were overwhelmed with support.

    "Tractors rolling up to get people to where they need to be. People who have rallied around to make sure we had all we needed for the night,.

    "Even this morning, we had someone volunteered to clean the toilet to help us get ready for another day, so it's been absolutely amazing."

    Camp beds and inflatable mattresses set up.Vikki Irwin/BBC

    Inflatable mattresses and camp beds were set up around the leisure centre for the 30 people who had to take shelter

  9. Railway line flooded

    As we reported earlier all lines are blocked in Stowmarket this morning affecting passengers hoping to travel by train between Ipswich and Norwich.

    The reason - the River Gipping burst its banks and large sections of the tracks are under water.

    Railway tracks largely under water near Stowmarket.Network Rail

  10. Rain expected until late afternoon

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    The latest weather forecast has many parts of Suffolk with a high chance of rain until late afternoon.

    In Framlingham, one of the worst hit areas there is a high probability of light rain until 17:00 BST.

    A snapshot of weather forecast for Framlingham in Suffolk. It shows that rain is expected until 17:00 BST.

    In Framlingham, one of the worst hit areas, light rain is expected to continue until late afternoon.

  11. Floodwater cleared overnight

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    Crews from Suffolk Highways worked through the night to clear floodwater from severely hit roads.

    Tankers have been out pumping water away from roads.

    Two tankers in the night can be seen just by their flashing lights pumping water from the road.Suffolk Highways

    Highways were on the A140 at Brockford pumping water from the badly hit roads.

  12. In pictures: The aftermath of Storm Babet

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    People have been sending in pictures of the aftermath of Storm Babet. BBC Weather Watcher Silverloon has sent these pictures of Needham Market and Creeting St Mary.

    Flooding in Needham Market shows high water level on a footpath with just the tops of trees visiblesilverloon/Weather Watchers

    In Needham Market the water level remains high with some footpaths still impassable

    Another flooded footpath in Creeting St Marysilverloon/Weather Watchers

    In Creeting St Mary paths and fields have merged into one

    Water level under a bridge is just under the arched waterwaysilverloon/Weather Watchers

    River levels in Needham Market,which saw some of the worst of Friday's flooding, are still high

  13. Parts of Ipswich with no water

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    Anglian Water say heavy rain has caused flooding which "overwhelmed" its treatment works at Whitton.

    As a result the site has been unable to treat and supply water meaning low pressure or in some cases no water is available throughout Ipswich.

    In a statement on its website, the water compony has said : "Our teams have been working hard to get things sorted but between the weather and the fact our site has been closed, it's been a really complicated problem to solve.

    "We've been able to divert water from elsewhere in the network to keep taps flowing but it's likely to be at much lower pressure than normal."

    It says it is working to get flood water out of the site and will the treatment centre back open.

    Airlocks have also flooded complicating the issues, it says.

    Red outline shows the area in and around Ipswich with no water or low water pressureAnglian Water

  14. Flooding starting to clear in Framlingham

    It's a very different picture in Framlingham this morning, with flood water subsiding significantly.

    The Railway Inn, in the centre of the photograph, was deep under water yesterday but today the road outside is clear.

    Thanks to Kris Wolton for sending in the photographs.

    Aerial photographs of FramlinghamKris Wolton
    Aerial photographs of FramlinghamKris Wolton

  15. Flooding shuts pub for 'foreseeable future'

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    The Railway Inn in Framlingham has been badly hit by flooding.

    Informing customers in a Facebook post, the pub said: "We will be closed for the foreseeable future due to the amount of water damage inside."

    Road outside the pub floodedRailway Inn/Facebook
    Inside the pub is flooded, dirty water and it is halfway up a fireplace.Railway Inn/Facebook
    A flooded patio and garden area at the pubRailway Inn/Facebook

  16. Mum worried about taking child home

    Vikki Irwin
    BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

    Jennifer Collins in shelter centreVikki Irwin/BBC

    A mum and daughter who took shelter at Debenham Leisure centre last night say they are "worried" about returning home.

    Jennifer Collins says she "grabbed" whatever she thought she needed and left her home after it was flooded.

    "I don't think I have got enough though", she says.

    She tells me her 11-year-old daughter has cerebral palsy and Ms Collins is worried she may "run out of her medication in a week".

    "My daughter wants to go home to her toys. But I am worried to take her.

    "I will now contact the council and see where we can stay as she needs a wheelchair access.

    "We will then have to figure out what to do with the house and what follows next," she adds.

  17. Major rail disruption

    Rachael McMenemy
    BBC News

    Greater Anglia say due to heavy flooding at Stowmarket all lines are blocked.

    Its message is do not travel.

    There are also flooding and infrastructure issues caused by the storm between Diss and Norwich.

    Multiple route alterations are in place but no rail replacement services are available for cancelled routes.

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  18. More aerial photographs of flood-hit Framlingham

    The area around the Railway Inn, on Station Road, Framlingham, still has a lot of standing water.

    Aerial photograph of flooding in Framlingham

  19. The scene in Framlingham at 07:00

    This photo shows the latest flooding situation in Framlingham, which was one of the worst-hit areas yesterday.

    Flood waters have started to drop but remain high, with many properties affected.

    Floods in Framlingham

  20. Major incident remains in place in Suffolk

    A major incident remains in place in Suffolk after Storm Babet hit the county, causing severe flooding.

    Eighteen flood warnings are in place and people were being advised to only travel if necessary.

    Suffolk Highways has been working through the night to clear roads of floodwater.

    Firefighters attended more than 170 incidents in the last 24 hours - many flood related, while 30 people spent the night at Debenham leisure centre.