Flash floods bring a month's worth of rain in 24 hours

Parts of Britain have been struck by flash floods after some areas saw more than a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.

- WILLIAM WARNES

Heavy rainfall has seen parts of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and London submerged, causing widespread travel disruption and damage to properties. According to the Environment Agency, at least 45 properties have flooded across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Kent and the home counties.

By 11.45am yesterday, it had issued 17 flood warnings – meaning flooding was expected – for England. Areas affected include Childswickham in Worcestershire, Leighton Buzzard and Luton in Bedfordshire and parts of London including South Ruislip.

Hertfordshire County Council received as many as 260 flood reports since Saturday, with the majority centred around St Albans, Harpenden and Letchworth.

National Highways confirmed the A421 in Bedfordshire was closed in both directions between A6 Bedford and M1 J13 near Marston Moretaine due to flooding. Bedfordshire Police said it had closed off part of Dunstable High Street due to “substantial flooding”, with footage shared on social media showing cars battling high water around the Saracen’s Head pub.

A spokesperson for the RAC called on drivers to take “extreme care” and avoid driving through water deeper than 10cm. Some schools in Bedfordshire were forced to close, an update on Central Bedfordshire Council's website citing water ingress/flooding as being the reason for the closures.

The Overground and some Tube lines in London were partly suspended. The District Line was not running between Turnham Green and Richmond, while the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines were suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge. There was no Overground service between South Acton and Richmond, while severe delays hit the Bakerloo line and the Metropolitan line between Rayners Lane and Harrowon-the-Hill.