As it happened: East Midlands hit by flooding

1. The East Midlands continues to experience flood disruption
2. A major incident has been declared along the River Trent in Nottinghamshire
3. More than 100 homes flooded in Nottinghamshire
4. Flooding aftermath problems could last 'for months'
5. Numerous roads remain closed in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire
6. It comes after Storm Henk battered the UK earlier this week

Our live coverage has ended

Our live updates on the flooding situation in the East Midlands have ended.

Keep an eye on the BBC News website for any further developments.

Staying out of trouble on wet roads - a guide

Greig Watson

Reporter, BBC News Online

Soaking pedestrians by driving through puddles is potentially a criminal offence - and other things motorists in wet weather should be aware of.

The BBC has put together a guide with information and advice on how best to handle the watery conditions when behind the wheel.

PA Media

Aerial footage shows scale of flooding in counties

Alex Thorp

BBC News

Aerial footage shows scale of flooding in East Midlands

Helicopter footage has shown the scale of flooding across parts of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

The swollen River Trent was captured in parts of Colwick and West Bridgford, as well as Shardlow and Sawley.

Minister says government takes climate change seriously

PA Media

People's concerns over repeated flooding in Nottinghamshire are being taken "extremely seriously", a minister has said.

Speaking to media on a visit to the region, minister for water and rural growth Robbie Moore has said the government does not "have control over the amount of rain that falls".

However, he hopes efforts by the Environment Agency and local authorities "backed up by funding put into flood resilience plans" were working.

He said: "There is always more to do but I know how hard local authorities are working."

GOV.UK

When asked whether compensation would be offered to those affected by the floods, the minister said the government was looking at what measures it could put in place.

Finally, when asked if the government is taking climate change seriously, Mr Moore replied: "Absolutely we are."

BBC presenter takes tractor from cut-off hamlet

Alex Thorp

BBC News

Flooding latest: BBC presenter takes tractor from cut-off hamlet

A tractor is currently the only way in and out of a Nottinghamshire hamlet cut off by flood water.

BBC East Midlands Today's Emily Anderson visited Gibsmere, near the village of Bleasby, to see the extent of the flooding.

Region 'feeling the effects' of climate change

PA Media

An Environment Agency spokeswoman says the East Midlands is "feeling the effects" of climate change and that greater flood resilience is needed across the country.

Alex McDonald, speaking near the River Trent in Nottingham, told the PA news agency: "We're seeing a large number of big events, and this winter has been particularly bad since October onwards.

"We are feeling the effects of climate change in the East Midlands, and as a nation we need to be more resilient to flooding.

"So we need to look at how we can work with communities to build that better, to help install property flood resilience measures to people's homes, to make sure people are signed up to flood warnings and understand their risks and look at how we can work with local authorities around flood protection measures we can offer to communities."

Callum Parke/PA Wire

An expected cold spell means river levels may go down, but there is a risk of roads becoming icy following flooding, the spokeswoman said.

She added: "It's good news for river levels, because it will mean that they'll be able to go down, the River Trent's going to stay high for a couple of days and that's going to make its way towards a Humber."

'Really difficult' 24 hours for flooded residents

Dan Martin

BBC News

Residents in Vale Road in Colwick, in Nottinghamshire, have been struggling with flooding in their homes since Thursday.

Local Conservative councillor Mike Adams told the BBC the last 24 hours had been "really difficult" for them.

"The water started appearing on the road yesterday evening and it has then started to push into people's homes", he said.

"We had buses driving by and that was causing bough waves and sending water into properties."

Residents took their own action, setting up a makeshift road block with wheelie bins before the road was closed by the county council.

BBC

Conservative MP for the area, Tom Randall (pictured above), visited the street on Friday and said: "This has been a terrible but unexpected situation for residents in Vale Road, which we don't think has flooded in the last 100 years or so."

"It has been an awful experience for people and it's not over yet," he added.

"They are still trying to get this water out and that will not happen until the water levels recede."

Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been urged to do more to help flood-hit areas, with Labour saying he had been "asleep at the wheel".

Villages given evacuation checklist by council

Greig Watson

Reporter, BBC News Online

Nottinghamshire County Council has issued a warning to residents of a series of villages that their homes are at risk.

Officials have said residents in Bleasby, Gibsmere, Girton, Gunthorpe, Holme, Hoveringham and Tolney Lane are likely to be flooded.

They have urged people to use a checklist to make sure they have necessary supplies before finding alternative accommodation.

There is also a public rest centre available in Newark.

Nottinghamshire County Council

Your pictures: Soggy scenes across the East Midlands

Greig Watson

Reporter, BBC News Online

The dedicated snappers who send images to BBC Weather Watchers have been showing what is happening near them.

Sawley Scott showed one car being left axle deep in water at Sawley in Derbyshire.

Sawley Scott

The sun was seen in Swarkestone, Derbyshire, and danced on the flooded fields, as captured by Yorkshire Rose.

Yorkshire Rose

Signs pointing out the River Trent are temporarily superfluous in North Collingham, Nottinghamshire, as the river swamps nearby paths.

Lionel Lick

And Smiley-Sue found more sunshine to enhance the soggy scene in Chellaston, Derby.

Smiley-Sue

Farmer says flooding has lost him more than £14,000

PA Media

Farmers are likely to see "huge losses" after a relentless season of storms, one flood-hit grower has said.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) say there should be compensation for those holding flood water in their fields.

Peter Gadd, a farmer in Nottinghamshire and chairman of the NFU's crops board in the East Midlands, said Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran in the autumn hit within 10 days of him having sown a crop of wheat and barley - 40% of which washed away before emerging from seed.

He believes he has lost about £14,000 to £15,000 in the current floods, though he can only tally the total once the water has cleared, for which he will receive no compensation or insurance payout.

BBC

"As an absolute minimum, there's going to be huge losses," Mr Gadd said.

"We've just got to see what we can retrieve in the spring, but many of the crops that have been sown and those that were unharvested that are now under water will not be retrievable."

He added that one of the reasons his area floods is that the Environment Agency is not maintaining the rivers properly and is allowing too much silt to build up.

He said officials were generally apathetic about river maintenance, which could end up jeopardising the nation's food security.

The Environment Agency has been contacted for comment.

Flood aftermath problems could last 'for months'

Jamie Waller

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Officials have warned the consequences of the flooding in Nottinghamshire could be felt "for months".

The county council declared a major incident on Thursday, estimating more than 100 properties had been flooded and evacuated.

Scotty

Councillor Neil Clarke, cabinet member for environment, said while water levels had peaked in some areas, further down the Trent some villages were still threatened and "there may be further evacuations to take place".

He added: "My heart goes out to people who are flooded - it's a traumatic experience.

"We know from past flooding it takes many months for properties to dry out, put in new floors and redecorate.

"While the water may disappear in the next days, the ongoing consequences will be felt for many months."

Watch: Drone footage shows hamlet cut off by floods

Chris Waring

BBC News

Dramatic drone footage shows a Nottinghamshire hamlet and nearby static caravans completely cut off by flood water after the River Trent burst its banks.

Following flooding caused by Storm Henk, the south side of Bleasby is inaccessible, along with nearby hamlet Gibsmere, which has become surrounded by flood water.

On Thursday, a total of 18 people and four dogs were rescued from Gibsmere.

Village cut off by flood water

Flood-hit nature reserve to stay closed all weekend

Matt Taylor

BBC News

Attenborough Nature Reserve has urged people not to visit the site.

In a social media post, the Nottinghamshire attraction said: "Sadly, as expected the water levels on the reserve remain high and we ask people not to try to access the reserve.

"The visitor centre will also be closed all weekend and we will continue to monitor the situation."

Footage from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust showed the extent of flooding there.

'Knackered' mole battles in flood water

Alex Thorp

BBC News

'Knackered' mole battles in flood water

A wildlife charity has shared footage of a "knackered" mole swimming in flood water.

The small mammal was spotted at Attenborough Nature Reserve on Thursday.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said the mole was "OK" and made its own way to dry land.

In a post on Facebook, the charity said: "[It is] amazing to see such resilience in a rarely seen species and brings hope that wildlife can survive and adapt to these events that are ever increasing in the face of climate change."

PM says people should be 'reassured' by flood response

PA Media

Rishi Sunak has said that people should be "reassured" by the response to flooding in badly affected areas.

The prime minister has faced calls to visit local areas, as well as criticism of government support for flood defences.

Speaking to broadcasters in the north-west of England on Friday, Sunak said: "I spoke to people in the East Midlands yesterday who had been affected and talking to them about how devastating the impact of flooding is.

Reuters

"I just want people to be reassured that the Environment Agency has got people on the ground in all the affected areas, also hundreds of high volume pumps are in practice right now making a difference and it is important that people follow the advice that has been given in local areas where there are flood warnings that have been given."

But Labour accused the government of being "asleep at the wheel" over flood warnings, and said it needed to act now to stop further damage to people's homes.

A joint statement by the shadow cabinet office minister and shadow environment secretary said: "This is not about extra money, this is about ensuring that the budget already committed to flood defences is used to maximum effect."

Caravans surrounded by water at flooded marina

Jake Garner

BBC Radio Nottingham

BBC

Here at Redhill Marina and Caravan Park in Nottinghamshire some caravans still sit surrounded by water.

It's hard to know where the marina ends and caravan park begins.

The River Soar at nearby Kegworth remains high but levels are falling, according to the Environment Agency.

BBC

Furniture shop's 'terrible start to new year'

PA Media

Ken Button, who works at Kirk and Bill's, a furniture workshop in Farndon Road, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire said the store was flooded during the storm.

Water has risen up through the floorboards and drains due to flooding caused by Storm Henk, submerging the workshop.

PA Media

Mr Button has been pumping water out of the workshop, which is located close to the River Trent.

He said: "This is the second time I can ever remember it happening.

"The last time was around 2000, and the building is well over 100 years old, and it hasn't been a problem in the past, but for some reason or other it is now, which is presumably a sign of climate change.

"It's been a terrible start to the new year. We'll have to see what we can salvage. I suppose the long-term solution is to raise the floor up, but at a cost."

PA Media

Sports centre open to support flood victims

Matt Taylor

BBC News

Newark and Sherwood District Council has encouraged residents to stay safe during the severe flooding caused by Storm Henk.

Newark Sports and Fitness Centre has been open since Thursday afternoon for anyone whose home has flooded or is at risk of flooding and the council said several displaced families and individuals had received support so far.

Newark and Sherwood District Council

Some of the roads currently blocked include, at time of writing, the A617 at Kelham, Gunthorpe Bridge, Farndon Road in Newark, Low Street in Collingham, Back Street and Station Road in Thurgarton, and council officers are out investigating some other areas which may also now be cut off.

A full list of road closures in Nottinghamshire can be found here.

Watch: Helicopter footage shows extent of flooding

BBC aerial shots show wide scale flooding across Nottinghamshire, with houses submerged and roads closed off.

Flooding: Helicopter footage shows extent of flood damage

'I had to turn back and examine the carnage afterwards'

Will Jefford

BBC East Midlands

People in Nottinghamshire are still waiting for the waters to subside and many have had their homes damaged as a result of the flooding.

Phil, a resident in the village of Bleasby, told BBC Radio 4 that he lost his caravan as a result of the heavy rainfall.

BBC

"You've got no chance, I thought with the wellies I'd get all the way down there but no. The strength of the current was just washing over my wellingtons and I'd only got a quarter of the way down the lane to the caravan," he said.

"I had to turn back and examine the carnage afterwards."