A major incident has been declared across Leicestershire as emergency services battle widespread flooding that has already led to people across the region having to be rescued.
The Environment Agency has issued a severe “danger to life” flood warning for the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar, where caravan parks are at immediate risk.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service declared the major incident at 7.35am on Monday after receiving more than 200 emergency calls.
Crews have been responding to incidents involving cars stuck in floodwater and evacuating residents from their homes across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Emergency response teams from every fire station across the region are currently deployed to tackle the crisis.
There was heavy rainfall across the country
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A vehicle makes its way through flood water
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Some people found creative ways to deal with the flooding
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A dramatic rescue unfolded in Great Glen when pub owner Cimi Kazazi saved a 63-year-old woman from her submerged car in the early hours of Monday morning.
Kazazi, who runs The Italian Greyhound pub restaurant, waded through “completely freezing” flood water more than a metre deep after neighbours spotted the stranded driver.
“She said if I stayed there another 15 minutes she would have died, she would have passed out,” Kazazi told LeicestershireLive.
The rescued woman continued shaking for several hours despite being surrounded by heaters in the pub.
Local residents told Kazazi this flooding was the worst since the 1960s, with the pub’s beer garden tables completely submerged.
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A vehicle is submerged under water near the River Devon
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A flooded Eckington Road in Defford, Worcestershire
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Major roads and bus routes across Leicestershire have been severely disrupted, with the A50 from Junction 22 of the M1 towards Markfield “currently impassable” due to flood water.
Three major bus operators – Arriva Midlands, Kinchbus and Centrebus – have been forced to cancel or divert services across Leicester, Loughborough, Melton and Market Harborough.
Arriva’s Service 49 to Fleckney is terminating at Wigston Harcourt, while the 84 Lutterworth service cannot serve stops in Cosby.
Centrebus has suspended routes LC1, 55, 26 and 24, with flooding compounded by heavy snow.
The village of Ratby has been left “gridlocked” with both Desford Lane and Station Road underwater, leaving just Sacheverell Way as the only clear exit route.
The Environment Agency’s severe flood warning for the River Soar caravan parks indicates an immediate risk to life and property.
A view of flood waters around the Little Venice caravan park in Yalding, Kent
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The public has been urged to avoid flooded routes and never enter floodwater. Yellow warnings for snow and ice remain in place across most of south-west England and Wales until 10am Tuesday.
The same warning affects western and northern parts of Scotland until midday, and Northern Ireland until 11am.
In the Commons, environment minister Emma Hardy told MPs flooding was “a personal priority” for her, adding that the Environment Agency was particularly concerned about Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire.
Warning of further “localised” flooding to come over the next 24 to 36 hours, she pledged to overhaul the Government’s approach to funding flood defences “to ensure the challenges facing businesses and rural and coastal communities are taken into account when delivering flood protection.”