'Danger to life': UK continues to suffer winter snow and flooding
Weather warnings are in force across much of the UK after severe flooding and snow caused travel disruption, as ITV News Reporter Stacey Foster explains.
The UK continues to suffer a winter blast as dozens of people have been rescued by firefighters and a severe flood warning, indicating a “danger to life," has been put in place in Leicestershire.
The Environment Agency issued the flood warning for the River Soar at caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar, acknowledging the need for a "large-scale evacuation."
“This severe warning has been issued because large-scale evacuation is required," it said.
“River levels are rising at the Pillings Lock river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt. Consequently, flooding of properties is expected to continue."
A man was rescued from a caravan in Proctors Park, Barrow upon Soar, using a raft on Tuesday morning.
On Monday afternoon, firefighters rescued two people from floodwaters on Leicester Road, according to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.
A spokesperson for the fire service said firefighters and paramedics attended as the people had to be rescued with a water raft and had sustained some injuries.
Across England in total, there are 198 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and 300 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.
Hundreds of schools across the UK were closed on Tuesday, including 184 in Bradford, over a dozen in Lancashire, and eight in Northern Ireland, according to local authorities.
This all comes after the body of a man was recovered from an area of flooding in North Yorkshire on Monday.
Police have identified the man, but are still trying to contact his next of kin. They added the discovery is not being treated as suspicious.
Weather warnings
Tuesday: A yellow snow and ice warning is in effect for most of south-west England, Wales, coastal North Wales, Merseyside, parts of north-west England, and the West Midlands until 10 am. The same warning is in place for western and northern parts of Scotland until midday and, and in Northern Ireland until 11am.
Wednesday: The yellow weather warning for western and northern Scotland will remain in place from midday Tuesday until 12pm Wednesday. There is also the potential for another yellow warning which would bring snow to south-east and west England, including London from 9am to midnight.
Travel disruption
Manchester, Bristol, Aberdeen and Liverpool John Lennon airports were forced to suspend flights earlier on Tuesday because of the conditions.
On the roads, the A1 in Lincolnshire is closed in both directions between the B6326 near Newark-on-Trent and the B1174 near Grantham because of “extensive flooding”.
The A628 Woodhead Pass in South Yorkshire/Derbyshire is shut in both directions between the A616 for Flouch and the A57 for Hollingworth because of snow.
The A34 in Berkshire is closed southbound from the A339 for Donnington and the A4 for Newbury to allow emergency barrier repairs.
Across railways, all lines are closed between Peterborough and Leicester, affecting CrossCountry and East Midlands Railway services.
Great Western Railway said flooding has closed the line between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall.
Flooding near Hooton in Cheshire has stopped Merseyrail services between Hooton and Chester.
In Lincolnshire, officials said 40 flood warnings and 29 flood alerts were in place across the county, with reports of 62 properties “internally flooded”.
“We are keeping a really close watch on this as it develops because we know that there might potentially be more flooding, particularly in areas which may be affected by tidal waters,” Lincolnshire Resilience Forum said in a statement.
It added that emergency services are on standby in Greatford, near Stamford, to monitor the West Glen River, which threatens to flood 49 properties in the area.
It comes after commuters on Monday suffered from travel misery as major roads and railway lines were blocked.
Hundreds of schools were closed across the country, in areas including Lancashire, Yorkshire and north-east Scotland.
At a Lincolnshire primary school, parents were advised to stay away until the end of the day, as fire crews prepared to carry children through the floodwaters.
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”.
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