An 'act now' 'danger to life' severe flood warning urges an urgent evacuation in Leicestershire

The Environment Agency has issued a severe flood warning, meaning danger to life, for the River Soar covering caravan parks near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire.

As well as an evacuation from the Procter Caravan Park in Barrow-upon-Soar, a rest centre has been set up at a local Methodist Church Hall nearby.

A critical incident has been declared by East Midlands Ambulance for the first time ever, with flooding partly responsible for the "level of escalation".

A major incident was declared by authorities in Lincolnshire on Monday night, with a warning that more flooding could occur on Tuesday.

Firefighters in Leicestershire say they've received hundreds of calls since the weekend, and had to rescue almost 60 people who were trapped in either their homes or cars.

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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