Flooding clear-up begins

Published: 27/06/2007

A major clear-up operation is taking place today after much of the country experienced severe flooding over the last few days.

Four people have died as a result of the bad weather, while many hundreds have been evacuated from their homes and thousands more affected by severe transport disruptions.

One of the worst-affected areas was south Yorkshire, where work is continuing today on the dam wall at the Ulley reservoir amid fears it could be breached.

South Yorkshire police say there is still a "significant" risk of a major breach but say that the situation is now stable.

"High-volume pumping equipment is continuing to operate on site with water levels gradually decreasing," a spokesperson said.

Residents of the villages of Catcliffe and Whiston have been evacuated to Herringthorpe leisure centre and Dinnington comprehensive school in case the reservoir does flood.

The M1 motorway was closed yesterday between junctions 32 and 35 northbound and junctions 36 and 32 southbound because of flooding fears and remained shut this morning.

Traffic congestion had eased from chaos yesterday but the Highways Agency said the road was unlikely to return to normal until 13:00 BST.

Many homes in the area are still without power, with 120 homes in the Parkgate and Aldwarke areas still not reconnected. Some 7,000 residents in Rawmarsh have now had their power restored, however.

Much of the rest of northern England and the Midlands has also experienced severe flooding and the fourth fatality from the rain was confirmed in Walcott Lane, in Pershore, Worcestershire, yesterday.

A motorist called his wife to tell her that his Volvo was being flooded yesterday and West Mercia police today confirmed that divers have recovered a man's body from the area.

On Monday, a 68-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy died in separate incidents after being swept away in Sheffield, with 28-year-old Mike Barnett dying in Hull after becoming trapped in a storm drain.

According to the Met Office, England and Wales is set for more wet weather over the coming days and an early warning for heavy rain has been issued for the weekend.

Spokesman John Hammond said that there was a risk of more heavy showers in the Yorkshire area today, but that the amount of rainfall was likely to be lower than has been seen over the last 48 hours.

"The unsettled theme is set to continue," he said.

"Because of saturated ground it won't take too much rain to hamper the repair operation and clear-up."

He added that local rainfall totals could be up to 50mm but that most areas were likely to experience 20-30mm.

About 100mm of rain fell in Yorkshire yesterday, which is almost double the average monthly figure of 67mm for the entire month of June. ADNFCR-1111-ID-18193155-ADNFCR