Flooding causes chaos in Bucks Beds and Herts as people evacuated from homes

Police say some in Leighton Buzzard had to be evacuated due to flooding

Flooded rugby pitch in Leighton Buzzard
Author: Ellie CloutePublished 5th Jan 2024

Heavy rainfall during a yellow weather warning yesterday and into the night has caused disruption across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire this morning.

Flood alerts and warnings are in place across all three counties, with several rivers being monitored to check the still-rising water levels.

Homes evacuated

Bedfordshire Police have this morning, January 5th, released an update on the flooding across the county, stating that some houses in Leighton Buzzard have been evacuated due to flooding, with several road closures in place.

Central Bedfordshire Council set up two assistance centres in Leighton Buzzard for residents affected by flooding in the early hours of this morning. Both Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre and Meadow Way Community Centre welcomed in residents who were needing support.

A landslip at Arlesey in Bedfordshire was also affecting Thameslink services.

Roads closed

Many road closures are in place across Bucks, Beds and Herts following the rainfall.

In Bedfordshire, the A421 remains closed eastbound from the M1 to Marston Moretaine, with significant delays around Junction 13 of the M1 where the closure is in place.

The A6 from the Sainsbury's roundabout up to Clapham is also badly flooded.

Other road closures in place on Hockliffe Road at the junction of Brook Street and Appenine Way, and there is bad flooding also in the north of the county.

Police this morning have said whilst the Embankment remains open for now, Oakley bridges, the Felmersham bridge and Harrold bridge are closed.

People are also being asked to avoid Sheep Lane in Woburn at the Flying Fox roundabout.

In Hertfordshire, Police have been dealing with an incident on the A414 which has been affected by flooding, between Eastwick and Harlow, with people being asked to avoid the area.

Flood defences were installed across East Anglia and Bedfordshire last night following the severe rain with a number of flood alerts and flood warnings still in place.

Buckinghamshire warnings are in place for several areas and rivers, which are all being closely monitored.

There's warnings of school closures across the East and South East of England following the weather.