As it happened: Flooding in the East Midlands

Nottinghamshire County Council has now declared a "major incident" due to increased flooding across the county.

Neil Clarke, the authority’s cabinet member for transport and environment, told BBC East Midlands Today water levels along the River Trent were expected to rise by another 18in (45cm) in places, peaking during the night.

Richard MacRaeCopyright: Richard MacRae

He said hundreds of council staff had been working to deliver sand bags to residents and that the authority was ensuring most towns and villages had a local rest centre in case of evacuations.

It comes after a "major incident" was declared in Derbyshire on Friday.

A couple who live on a narrowboat in Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire, say they have been stranded there all day as the platform to get off is covered by flood water.

Neil Talbot-Jones, who lives on the boat with his wife and their dog, said: "We could not get off this morning and it has got deeper and deeper.

"We have even packed a bag in case we need to get off quickly - although I'm not sure how we will get off."

Neil Talbot-JonesCopyright: Neil Talbot-Jones

He said their cars were parked close to the boat and his neighbour had to move them out of the way of the flood water this morning.

Mr Talbot-Jones said the water had come "well over" the platform and they could only see part of its hand rail.

In the photo below the platform cannot be seen as it is submerged in water.

Neil Talbot-JonesCopyright: Neil Talbot-Jones

He added he was feeling quite nervous.

"Hopefully it does not get any worse. It has come up quite quick and it has gone up a bit more since we last looked," he said.

He said they had enough food and supplies to keep them going for "a day or two".

Below is a photograph of the platform before the flooding.

Neil Talbot-JonesCopyright: Neil Talbot-Jones

Here are some aerial shots of Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, taken this afternoon.

Firstly, there is the River Maun - which surrounds the Memorial Gardens - spilling into a field where livestock has been evacuated.

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Below is Ollerton roundabout, known as Saville roundabout, where water levels are currently receding.

However, a community field and farmer's field have been swamped with water from the river.

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This final view is looking towards Ollerton town where traffic is heavy due to diversions.

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Derbyshire County Council says it has already started a post-flood clean-up in some areas.

It said: "Our highways teams are already out on the main road network where water has receded and have begun the process of clearing roads of mud and debris and checking for hazards brought about by flooding.

"But with so many routes affected, this is an extensive operation which will take some time – and many roads will remain closed throughout the weekend and into the early part of next week.

Firefighters are assisting the Environment Agency in pumping water from Grove Lane in Retford.

Nottinghamshire Fire Service said it had laid a large amount of hose along the street, with residents advised to move their cars to avoid getting blocked in.

Nottinghamshire Fire ServiceCopyright: Nottinghamshire Fire Service

Nottinghamshire Fire ServiceCopyright: Nottinghamshire Fire Service

National Highways says the A1 has reopened southbound between Newark and Tuxford.

However the northbound carriageway remains closed.

National HighwaysCopyright: National Highways

Two people who got into trouble attempting to help horses caught in a flooded field had to be rescued by emergency services.

The horses were caught after heavy rainfall between Moorbridge Lane, Stapleford and the M1 at Stanton by Dale.

Stapleford Fire Station said the rescuers entered the flood water on Friday evening in an effort to save them before getting into trouble themselves.

The people were rescued but their conditions are not known.

Two of the horses were helped out of the water by emergency services on Saturday morning.

Richard MacRaeCopyright: Richard MacRae

Stapleford councillor Richard MacRae has been among those helping people whose houses have been flooded.

He said: "People are being evacuated from their homes. The river is inches off the top of the bank. It looks like the water is receding now though.

"I’ve lived here since I was six months old, I'm 52 now and I’ve never seen anything like it. There's been a great community effort and everyone has come together to help one another."

Firefighters are going door-to-door urging people to evacuate their homes in the Nottingham Road area of Long Eaton.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service said water levels along the River Erewash were continuing to rise.

A rest centre has been opened at West Park Leisure Centre in Wilsthorpe Road.

Residents have been encouraged to leave their homes in Exeter Place, Derby, which is near the banks of the River Derwent.

Matt Weigold, a BBC Radio Derby reporter who was at the scene earlier, said: "There are flats there where there were lifeboats and police escorting people out of their homes.

"Most residents are out now but they still are knocking on doors and encouraging them to leave their homes."

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He added that Exeter Bridge was cordoned off and water had flooded the underpass and footways in the area.

However, he said it didn't look like water had entered homes.

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Belper Town FC's Raygar Stadium is currently underwater.

The Derbyshire side's pitch has been completely devastated by the flooding, which has leaked heavily into the clubhouse.

Unsurprisingly this afternoon's match against Newton Aycliffe FC has been postponed.

Belper Town FCCopyright: Belper Town FC

The club has called on supporters to help them to "put things right".

Chairman Ian Woodward said it was the third time the club had been affected by flooding in the past five years.

Police have closed Mansfield Road in Derby.

BBC Radio Derby reporter Matt Weigold at the scene said cars were not allowed down from the A601 and there were long tailbacks.

He said it looks like police were only letting people through if they lived there.

This is in the Little Chester area where there is the severe flood warning in place, indicating risk to life.

Police are due to issue a statement shortly.

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Here are a few more photos showing the flooding in Derby city centre this afternoon.

The A52 is currently closed in both directions between Pentagon Island and the Wyvern retail park.

The city council has published a full list of road closures here.

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Some car parks at popular walking spots in the Peak District have been closed today due to the impact of the extreme wet weather and flooding in surrounding areas.

The Peak District National Trust says Longshaw, Ilam Park and Dovedale car parks are shut and "will reopen as soon it is safe to do so".

Residents affected by flooding in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, have been heading to local "rest centres".

Stapleford Fire Station said firefighters worked through the night to support people who have been hit by the bad weather.

Among those affected are residents living in Bailey Street.

Stapleford Fire StationCopyright: Stapleford Fire Station

The fire station said centres have opened at The Carnegie Hall, The Old Mill Club and Friesland Sports Complex in Sandiacre.

Chesterfield FC's home game against Gateshead has also been postponed due to the weather.

The club said the decision followed "advice received from various external partner agencies".

Some welcome news from Derby is that water levels on the River Derwent are slowly falling - down to 3.50m from a peak of 3.57m earlier.

Three severe flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency this morning remain in place.

Environment AgencyCopyright: Environment Agency

Labour MP Toby Perkins said about 400 houses in his Chesterfield constituency had been flooded and many people "have no idea where they're going to be living".

Mr Perkins told the BBC: "About 400 houses have been flooded, many of the businesses here have lost all their stock and will be closed."

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He continued: "Many of the people who live in this area are private renters, many of them don't have flood insurance because you can't get flood insurance if you're in an area that's prone to flooding.

"So a lot of the people I was speaking to last night have no idea where they're going to be living from now.

"Lots of them have lost all of their property, all their downstairs property and they'll be turning up at the council's door today saying 'I need rehousing'."

Storm Babet is also continuing to cause disruption to roads across Leicestershire.

Sileby Volunteer Flood Wardens said "several rescues" had taken place across the region.

There are a number of Environment Agency flood alerts and flood warnings in place.

Sileby Volunteer Flood WardensCopyright: Sileby Volunteer Flood Wardens

The wardens say there is an "extensive list" of road closures including Mountsorrel Lane, in Sileby; Narrow Lane, Wymeswold and Syston Road, Cossington

"Please never attempt to drive through flood water," the team added.

Sileby Volunteer Flood WardensCopyright: Sileby Volunteer Flood Wardens

Mansfield Town have postponed today's home game Forest Green Rovers.

The club said: "The area has experienced torrential rain for the past 30 hours and with more heavy rain forecast in the next six hours.

"Along with the referee’s concerns about the surrounding areas, the match has been postponed."

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