Flood alerts after heavy rainfall

Parts of northern England are still on high alert after heavy rainfall left homes flooded and roads swamped.

Homeowners in Sheffield will have been reaching for their home insurance policies after water poured into properties while motorists in Derbyshire were left trapped in cars as downpours left roads and a railway line unpassable.

As well as rescuing commuters, emergency services were called to a factory in Dronfield, north Derbyshire, where several workers became trapped when floodwaters cut their building off.

Weather forecasters have said there is still more rainfall to come, but not to the extent of the latest deluge.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for areas near the River Doe Lea in North Derbyshire and flood watches are taking place for areas running along the River Don.

Firefighters said flooding in Sheffield was a result of the city’s drainage system overflowing, rather than the River Don breaking its banks as it did in June 2007.

A spokeswoman for South Yorkshire Fire Service said some properties had been flooded with six to eight inches of water, with the worst affected areas Swallownest, Aston, City Road, the Manor estate and the city centre.

Copyright © Press Association 2009

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