Floods cause Billing Aquadrome caravan park evacuation

About 1,000 people have had to leave their homes in Northamptonshire after heavy rain led to flood warnings for six areas.

Residents of the caravan park at Billing Aquadrome, in the Nene Valley, were told to leave as a precaution.

People without accommodation from areas bordering the River Nene are being housed at an emergency shelter.

Many roads flooded on Wednesday have reopened but rain and strong winds have been forecast for the county later.

'Like a river'

Peter Angelides, business development director at Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park & Showground, said the park had been evacuated on the advice of the Environment Agency.

"We are advising all our holiday home owners and guests to return home to their residential addresses," he said.

"However, should this not be possible, then facilities have been provided for them at the Salvation Army, Billing Brook Road, Northampton."

Roads have been cleared in many areas of south Northamptonshire that were affected by flood water on Wednesday.

Watery Lane, in Nether Heyford, was reopened earlier but one house was flooded.

Resident Lynne Poulson said: "I went outside the front of the house and it was like a river coming down the road.

"It came in our side gate like a waterfall and collected at the front and as soon as it got to a certain level it was in the house."

Liz Al-Anazi, a flood warden in King's Sutton, said she was worried about the village flooding.

"I've recently heard that the River Cherwell had broken its banks and is spilling on to the road going into King's Sutton," she said.

Andy Wilkinson, from the Environment Agency, said: "People need to be vigilant. We had nearly 40mm (1.6in) of rain on the River Nene and 32mm (1.2in) on the River Welland and that is working its way down the system so river levels are still rising."

Flood warnings have been issued for areas along the River Nene between Wellingborough and Thrapston, the River Welland at Harringworth and properties along the Nene between Cogenhoe and Great Doddington.

There are also warnings for the Cogenhoe Mill caravan site and East Brackley, and villages along the upper Nene, including Bugbrooke and Nether Heyford.