Storm Babet: Schools closed, roads and rail travel disrupted across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Babet Chesterfield
Flooding hit parts of Chesterfield.

Schools have been closed and travel on the roads and railways has been disrupted after Storm Babet brought strong winds and heavy rain to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

An amber weather warning for rain was in place across the county until 6am on Saturday, 21 October.

Here's a round-up of some of the impact:

Leisure

Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield remained open, but flood defences were put up as a precautionary measure.

Pictures of Endcliffe Park in Sheffield showed water gushing through public areas.

Railways

All trains between Sheffield and Lincoln were cancelled.

Cross Country cancelled trains between Sheffield and Derby.

Rotherham Railway station was closed.

Passengers at Doncaster Station reported "complete chaos" with "everyone piling onto a handful of trains that are leaving. One to Leeds, one to Lincoln. Lots of the passengers had been sent from Sheffield because they couldn’t get south from there, only to find the same situation. The station announcer is advising no one to travel today."

One passenger said: "I’m now on a train trying to get to Peterborough via Lincoln - standing room only and a two-hour trip - but we have been told we are not leaving because flood waters are rising at Saxilby [in Lincolnshire] and they have to check if it is safe enough."

Roads

The M606 northbound exit slip road closed was closed with queueing traffic due to flooding at junction three.

Several roads were closed in Sheffield: Upwell Street, Penny Lane, Fife Street, Beaver Hill Road and Mosborough Parkway.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was helping people trapped in cars.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said cars were stranded in Chesterfield, including Chatsworth Road.

Marine Drive in Scarborough was closed because of the risk of tidal surge.

In Bridlington the RNLI warned people to stay away from the seafront as waves crashed over the tidal wall.

Granny Lane in Mirfield, a notorious flooding spot, was underwater and nearby Calder View, which runs under Ledgard Bridge, was also flooded, making the road impassable. Station Road was closed near to the railway station.

Airports

At Leeds Bradford Airport passengers on a TUI flight from Corfu had to be evacuated to the terminal after the plane skidded off the runway. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said there "no reported injuries or fires".

Coast

A dead porpoise was washed up on Cleethorpes beach, prompting Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue to comment: "We have a team on standby for these kind of incidents, especially because of the storm."

Schools

The following schools were closed:

  • Mount St Mary's College, Sheffield

  • Headlands School, Bridlington