Clean-up starts amid warnings over flooding in Suffolk

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

'Heartbreaking' being cut off from carpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
Emma Baugh
BBC Look East
Image source, Emma 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."
Image source, Claire Goddard
Image caption,
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".
Community centre open to help people without waterpublished at 13:21 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
'Frightening' floods shut businessespublished at 13:12 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
Image source, 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.
Image source, 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."
Flood warnings in placepublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Image source, Environment Agency
In pictures: Flooding across the East of Englandpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
The worst of the flooding has hit Suffolk but across the East of England some towns and villages have also been affected.
Image source, Andrew Sinclair/BBC
Image caption,
In Wramplingham in Norfolk a lot of flood water remains with some cars partially submerged.
Image source, Andrew Sinclair/BBC
Image caption,
Colton, in Norfolk, is also dealing with flooded roads
Image source, Michael Burke
Image caption,
A garage in St Ives, Cambridgeshire has been flooded
Woman thanks stranger for kindnesspublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
Image source, Nina 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".
Image source, Nina Galley
Image caption,
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
Man forced to sleep in stranded carpublished at 11:37 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Relief centre 'overwhelmed' by community supportpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter
Image source, 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."
Image source, Vikki Irwin/BBC
Image caption,
Inflatable mattresses and camp beds were set up around the leisure centre for the 30 people who had to take shelter
Railway line floodedpublished at 10:48 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Image source, Network Rail
Rain expected until late afternoonpublished at 10:44 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
- Latest BBC Weather forecasts
Image caption,
In Framlingham, one of the worst hit areas, light rain is expected to continue until late afternoon.
Floodwater cleared overnightpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Image source, Suffolk Highways
Image caption,
Highways were on the A140 at Brockford pumping water from the badly hit roads.
In pictures: The aftermath of Storm Babetpublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Image source, silverloon/Weather Watchers
Image caption,
In Needham Market the water level remains high with some footpaths still impassable
Image source, silverloon/Weather Watchers
Image caption,
In Creeting St Mary paths and fields have merged into one
Image source, silverloon/Weather Watchers
Image caption,
River levels in Needham Market,which saw some of the worst of Friday's flooding, are still high
Parts of Ipswich with no waterpublished at 09:37 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Image source, Anglian Water
Flooding starting to clear in Framlinghampublished at 09:36 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Image source, Kris Wolton
Image source, Kris Wolton
Flooding shuts pub for 'foreseeable future'published at 09:28 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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."
Image source, Railway Inn/Facebook
Image source, Railway Inn/Facebook
Image source, Railway Inn/Facebook
Mum worried about taking child homepublished at 09:20 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter
Image source, Vikki 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.
Major rail disruptionpublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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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More aerial photographs of flood-hit Framlinghampublished at 08:48 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
The area around the Railway Inn, on Station Road, Framlingham, still has a lot of standing water.
The scene in Framlingham at 07:00published at 08:39 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.
Major incident remains in place in Suffolkpublished at 08:34 British Summer Time 21 October 2023
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.