Flooding disrupts travel in East Midlands

Motorists across the region are being warned to travel only if necessary

Flooding has closed roads across the East Midlands after heavy rain and rising river levels hit the region.

The Environment Agency said several flood warnings were in place on the River Trent.

A park-and-ride site in Nottingham was closed on Monday and a bridge over the River Trent at Kelham was also shut.

Dozens of flood warnings and alerts were in place across the region, the Environment Agency said.

Helicopter rescue

Several roads in Derbyshire were closed, including some in Sawley and Scropton.

In Nottinghamshire, the flood gate at Attenborough was closed to protect properties along the left bank of the River Trent and the water sports centre at Holme Pierrepont was also closed.

"We know that people like to go to the water sports centre to walk and cycle, especially at this time of year, however due to flooding and for safety reasons, both the centre and the country park are closed until further notice," a Nottinghamshire County Council spokesman said.

Paul Lockhart, flood risk manager for Nottinghamshire, said: "Most of our focus is on the River Trent as it is slowly rising.

"We are keeping a close eye on the river downstream at Fiskerton, Sawley, Newark and Girton.

"The situation is stabilising now so we are hoping we don't get widespread flooding.

"We do not expect as much rainfall as last week but the catchment areas are already saturated ... so we are asking motorists to avoid driving if at all possible."

On Sunday, an RAF Sea King helicopter had to be called to rescue a woman from a boat at Sawley marina because floods had blocked roads.

Flood warnings were in place across the East Midlands, including the River Dove at Marston and the River Soar in Leicestershire.