Residents at flooded waterside parks urged to stay away from their homes

Residents at Billing Aquadrome and the Yarwell Mill Country Park in Northamptonshire have been urged not to return to their homes despite water levels continuing to decrease overnight.

A multi-agency response to flooding at Yarwell Mill, near Peterborough, has been scaled back following a severe risk-to-life flood warning issued at the site on Thursday morning, with residents asked to leave for their own safety.

Residents are now being advised not to attempt to return to either site until advised to do so.

Flooding at Billing Wharf, near the River Nene, earlier this week
Flooding at Billing Wharf, near the River Nene, earlier this week (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Levels on the nearby River Nene have since fallen further, but the fire service remains on hand to support North Northamptonshire Council and site management as necessary.

North Northamptonshire Council has been in regular contact with the site’s management company since the weekend and has also been working to safeguard the most vulnerable people at Yarwell Mill, having set up a rest centre.

The Billing Aquadrome site, on the outskirts of Northampton, remains inaccessible due to flooding.

A person holding their thumb up and standing in floodwater
Those at the Billing Aquadrome were wading through floodwater after heavy rainfall from Storm Bert (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

“Although it’s good news to hear that the water levels are falling, people with accommodation at Yarwell Mill and Billing Aquadrome should not return to the sites until advised to do so.

“Although we hope to move into the recovery phase of our response soon, the LRF will not become complacent and we stand ready to step up our response again should the situation change.”

People in the county are still being asked to follow safety advice, including checking travel information before setting off, driving appropriately for the road conditions, and being prepared to meet standing water, with motorists warned against trying to drive through it.

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