HAIL AND HIGH WATER
»» Flooding forces thousands out of homes amid Tier 4 regulations Weather warnings issued for more downpours, gales & widespread chaos
BRITAIN was last night bracing for a battering from Storm Bella – after thousands had already been urged to flee homes threatened by festive-season floods.
Large swathes of Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire were submerged by a Christmas Day deluge, but forecasters predicted even more widespread chaos from Bella’s torrential downpours, hail and 70mph gales.
Last night three severe risk-to-life flood warnings had been issued across England, along with 67 flood warnings and 108 flood alerts.
Amber wind warnings were also put in place, set to last until noon today.
Met Office forecasters said: “Very windy weather is expected for parts of England, Wales and the far south of Scotland, leading to disruption to transport and utilities.”
Forecasters predicted the gales could result in “injuries and danger to life” from large waves and beach material being thrown on to sea fronts, coastal roads and properties, with warnings tiles were likely to be ripped from rooftops.
Some bridges and roads were expected to close and power cuts were predicted, which could affect services such as mobile phone coverage.
Heavy rain is expected to hit western and southern areas. Up to 60mm of rain is forecast in the hills – and 25mm elsewhere – across southern England and parts of South Wales.
It was the worst news for new Tier 4 areas already saturated by floods. Dramatic aerial shots of St Ives in Cambridgeshire showed much of the surrounding countryside totally submerged. And in Bedfordshire police urged more than 1,300 homeowners to evacuate after the River Great Ouse burst its banks on Christmas Day.
Fire chief Paul Fuller yesterday described the situation in the area as “dreadful”.
He added: “People have had a terrible time. “We’ve had all the measures in place to protect people from the virus. With all that going on, our hearts go out to people who have now had some of the highest levels of floods for over 20 years.”
One trio of Bedford residents were determined not to be forced out – and spent Christmas night digging a trench between their homes and the
Ouse. Gary Huntley, Franco Felice and Adrian Coleman dubbed themselves The Three Amigos, armed themselves with shovels and set to work along the riverbanks. They were joined by a crowd of between 30 and 40 big-hearted neighbours.
Ex-Para Gary, 51, who now works as a boot camp coach, said yesterday: “We just had Christmas Dinner when Franco, my next-door neighbour, said we were going to get flooded.
“We went and had a look. I said we needed to get shovels and dig a trench. We worked till 3, had a break and came back out at six. Fortunately, the level has dropped this morning.”
Villagers were not so lucky in Harrold, Beds, where an inflatable boat was launched to rescue nine people from one flood-hit property. Bedford International Athletic Stadium was set up as an emergency assistance centre for people who had been forced to leave their homes.
Now, despite the Tier 4 restrictions in place, residents have been told they are permitted to spend time in other people’s houses.
But the devastation is still far from over. Environment Agency flood duty manager Ben Lukey yesterday warned homeowners: “The flood risk will remain in impacted areas through the weekend. Our thoughts are with those affected.
“Environment Agency teams are working 24/7 alongside the emergency services and local partners to check and operate defences and support those who have been flooded, reduce the risk of further flooding and keep communities safe.”
Meanwhile in Northamptonshire the Cogenhoe Mill Caravan Site was photographed totally swamped with muddy floodwater.
And police last night continued to urge people to stay away from the Billing Aquadrome holiday park – where hundreds of people had to be evacuated on Christmas Eve because of the alarmingly high water levels on the River Nene.
They reached 5ft in some places and emergency services had to use boats to ferry drenched residents to safety from the worst-hit areas.
Storm Bella has rolled in following a bitter cold snap that hit much of the country.
But Britain was warned that once it has passed, we could soon start to shiver again.
Weather forecasters were last night predicting freezing wintry showers and even snow across many areas later in the week.
NORTHANTS Drowned Cogenhoe Mill caravans