Olimpia Zagnat
BBC News

Yesterday, a critical incident was declared across the whole of Nottinghamshire's healthcare system, including the city.

Health bosses said all hospitals in the county were under "extreme pressure" and patients were facing long delays for treatment.

Hospital leaders in Leicester have also warned of high demand on their services at the moment.

With numerous flood warning still in place and a junior doctors strike under way people are being encouraged to be mindful of the pressures on their local accident and emergency (A&E) departments.

Image source, LDRS

The NHS advises patients to use A&E only if they are seriously injured or facing life-threatening emergencies, such as signs of a heart attack or stroke, choking, breathing difficulties, a seizure or heavy bleeding.

It says many people attend A&E with conditions that could be dealt with in urgent treatment centres.

Patients who are unsure what to do are urged to contact the NHS 111 service, either by phone or online to seek advice.

Matt Taylor
BBC News

Three fire engines arrived this morning at Radcliffe Park, Nottinghamshire, where there is concern for at least a dozen properties.

BBC Radio Nottingham's Rebecca Brice is at the scene, and explained some homes were totally surrounded by water.

One resident, Jane Hucknall-Swallow, said: "We are looking at most of the river in my front drive, a boat floating in my front drive and I’m stood at least 100 yards away from it now, and I’ve had to borrow thigh-high waders to actually get out of the house."

The rain has stopped for now, but rising levels on the River Trent are being monitored.

Almost 40 flood warnings remain in place around Nottinghamshire.

Will Jefford
BBC East Midlands

Sam Skidmore is a building surveyor who moved to Trent Side in Barton-in-Fabis, Nottinghamshire, with his wife and their six children in September.

This is their first experience of flooding, which happens there every year, and Mr Skidmore, whose house is on stilts, said he was impressed with the community spirit shown.

Image source, Sam Skidmore

"We put all the kids in a canoe and go up and down the lane. The kids love it," he said.

"We knew the place flooded. We’re hoping it will go down.

"All the neighbours help each other - drive each other to the flood bank. They are so helpful."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Here's a round-up of what's been happening today:

• Leicestershire County Council says at least 284 properties have been affected by flooding
• Dozens of roads remain impassable across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire
• Attenborough Nature Reserve and Colwick Country Park are closed to visitors
• Conservative MP for Newark, Robert Jenrick, has warned his constituency is facing its worst flooding since 2000
• Parts of the region may see more heavy rain this evening

Matt Taylor
BBC News

Karl Bowden, from Leicestershire Fire and Rescue, told BBC Radio Leicester he service had received over 100 emergency calls to flood-related incidents in the past 24 hours.

"One of the things we've noticed is we have attended a lot of vehicles stranded in water," he said.

"People are going through the road closed signs and we are having to rescue people from their vehicles.

"My message to people is, please don’t do that. Driving into flood water, you’re putting yourself at risk. Some of this flood water can be very dangerous.

"Not only that, when our crews have to attend, you’re putting our crews at risk."

Olimpia Zagnat
BBC News

A number of road closures remain in place across Nottinghamshire due to the flooding.

These includes the A6097 at Gunthorpe Bridge which has been closed due to rising river levels, warns Nottinghamshire County Council. The closure is in place between the A46 and the A612.

Image source, Nottinghamshire County Council

Other road closures across Nottinghamshire include:

• Moor Road at the city boundary, Bestwood Village
• A617 at Kelham
• Trent Side, Gunthorpe
• Vale Road, Colwick
• Main Street, Burton Joyce

Flood alerts remain in place across the county and drivers have been urged not to ignore road closure signs.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Newark MP Robert Jenrick has warned his constituency is facing the most severe flooding it has seen in more than 20 years.

Will Jefford
BBC East Midlands

Colwick Country Park in Nottinghamshire has asked people to stay away with large parts of the site "under deep water".

Park bosses welcomed the enthusiasm of visitors but said their safety was the "top priority".

They thanked visitors for their understanding and said they would keep the public posted.

Matt Taylor
BBC News

People have been told not to visit Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire due to flooding.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's Miriam Lawley shared this video of fast-flowing water in the car park.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Loughborough has been one of the worst hit parts of the region with police reporting a "large number" of homes experiencing flooding.

The PA news agency captured these images in the town on Wednesday.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Matt Taylor
BBC News

Ann Carruthers, director of environment and transport at Leicestershire County Council, said a multi-agency response to the floods would continue.

"We’ve been closing roads where needed," she told BBC Radio Leicester. "We’ve been providing sandbags where we can to assist.

"We’ve been supporting the emergency services and doing emergency cleansing where that can help the situation.

"A whole host of functions will continue over the next few days I’m sure, as hopefully we move in to clear up and out of the worst of things."

Sara Blizzard
BBC Weather

It's a quiet start to the day but it looks like we might still see some heavy rain developing by the time we get to this evening across the East Midlands, linked to an area of low pressure moving up from the south.

We've had a brighter start to the day with just the slim chance of an isolated shower but the main change going into the afternoon will be the cloud starting to increase from the south, with a daytime temperature of about 8C (46F).

The wind will then start to strengthen through this evening and overnight, and we'll just start to see the first signs of this band of heavy rain, which could works its way a little bit further westwards for a period of time so we still have a lots of flood warnings in force and lots of saturated ground.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The Environment Agency has warned more flooding is still possible in the East Midlands even if there is no more rain in the coming days.

The county council says 284 properties have been flooded across Leicestershire and the authority has closed 42 roads that are impassable because of high water levels.

In Nottinghamshire, rising levels on the River Trent are being monitored, with dozens of flood warnings still in place across the county and Gunthorpe Bridge currently closed.

Things look slightly better in Derbyshire but there are still problems in some areas, including Shardlow and Drakelow.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

We are resuming our live coverage of the flooding problems in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.

Issues are still being reported in many parts of the region after Storm Henk battered the UK on Tuesday and further rain came on Wednesday. Our reporters will bring you the latest through today.

Our live updates on the flood situation in the East Midlands have concluded.

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

PA Media

Dozens of homes in Leicestershire have been breached or surrounded by water as Storm Henk caused widespread flooding across the country.

Some people in Bottleacre Lane in Loughborough remained trapped in their homes on Wednesday, after rising water from the nearby Grand Union Canal cut them off.

Fire and rescue teams are working to remove any stranded residents, and homeowners are trying to pump water out of the road.

The ground floor of Ivan Fletcher's property, where he has lived for 16 years, is full of flood water, and his possessions have been moved upstairs.

The father of nine, seven of whom live at home, has moved six of his children to a relative's home in Leicester, with one staying in the property.

He said: "I woke up this morning to this. There was water everywhere and it has got worse. There are bins everywhere, rubbish, and the kids were panicking and stressed.

"I moved my wife and the kids to Leicester with her sister, out of the way, and I'll stay here with the cats and my eldest daughter.

"It happened about 12 years ago but it was never this bad."

Dave Cowdroy has lived in Bottleacre Lane for about seven years and said he had never seen flooding on the road.

He said his house had not yet been breached and he hoped the water levels did not rise further.

He said: "It feels weird and terrible. If it gets any worse, it won't be very nice."

Jacob Davidge, who lives in Loughborough, says he and his family - including his seven-month-old baby - are waiting to be rescued from their flooded home, which has been "overwhelmed" by the rising water.

His home was flooded in the early hours of this morning after a nearby canal bank burst and his family have been sheltering upstairs with "no food and just seven bottles of milk" for his baby.

His father-in-law raised the alarm after returning home from work at midnight and seeing water at the front of the house.

"At 01:00, my wife woke me up to say there was water everywhere and so I went down to help my father-in-law. It was about 1cm of water in the house and outside," Mr Davidge said.

Image source, Jacob Davidge

"We started using buckets to try and tip it out but realised it was rising and by 3am it was up to our knees, so we tried to then salvage our possessions."

Mr Davidge says the family managed to get sofa cushions, books and even the Christmas tree to safety upstairs, where his family has stayed put.

He says he spoke to the fire service, which advised him to contact the council and they are waiting for people to help them.

Alex Thorp
BBC News

Aerial footage has revealed the extent of flooding in Loughborough, in Leicestershire.

The drone footage shows flooded roads following heavy rain brought by Storm Henk.

Alex Thorp
BBC News

Residents of a flooded village in Leicestershire have spoken of their shock.

Vehicles have been left marooned and a doctors' surgery was forced to close in Quorn.

One resident said the flooding was the "worst we've seen it in over 30 years".

Olimpia Zagnat
BBC News Online

A council has stressed flood water should not be treated as a public attraction and issued a warning to people in Derbyshire.

Willington Parish Council says manhole covers have been dislodged due to fast flowing waters as about 70 flood warning were issued across the East Midlands.

Despite police urging people not to enter flood waters, officers witnessed people taking shoes off and going in.

The council has reminded people of the "invisible risk", adding the flood water could also be contaminated due to burst sewage works in South Derbyshire.

Image source, Willington Parish Council