Floods update: Scores of homes hit after heavy rain

A 17-year-old boy has been rescued after he was stuck in flood water as dozens of warnings remain in place across the region.

Nearly 200 properties have been flooded in greater Lincolnshire, where warnings are in place from Brigg in North Lincolnshire to Market Deeping in South Kesteven.

A major incident was declared by authorities on Monday night and a critical incident has been declared by East Midlands Ambulance Service for the first time.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said the teenager was "stuck in knee-deep floodwater" on St Nicholas Drive, Grimsby, at about 22:15 GMT on Monday, and firefighters took him back home to his family.

The boy was cycling home from work when his bike became submerged in water behind Wybers Wood.

His sister, Alina Petrova, said: "He was standing on the pedals of bike and water was up to his hips. If he was stood in the water it would be up to his chest, at least, if [he wasn't] submerged.

"He started shouting for help but nobody heard because it was a back alley."

He was in the water for about 30 minutes before four firefighters with an inflatable raft rescued him.

In East Yorkshire, 17 flood warnings have been issued, including for the villages of Bielby, Leven, Routh and Meaux.

About 25 road closures are in place, including the A1 northbound carriageway between the B6326 near Newark, Nottinghamshire, and the B1174 near Grantham. The southbound carriageway has reopened.

There was further flooding overnight in Boston and Greatford, near Stamford.

Pat Coates, of Lincolnshire Resilience Forum, said: "We deployed fire resources to assist with pumping to try to reduce the water levels, and we didn't have to evacuate anybody. People managed to move upstairs and they were prepared for it."

In a statement on Tuesday morning, Lincolnshire County Council said: "We are still treating the situation as a major incident due to the risk of overtopping at the South Delph and the high tide impact on the South 40ft Drain at Boston.

"We need to assess these risks on the ground over the next few hours before we can downgrade it."

Ian Reed, the council's head of emergency planning, said it was opening an information centre for people in the Wyberton area.

Stuart Bateman, who owns Batemans brewery in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire, said two of his properties in the market town had been flooded.

"They are the same two properties that were flooded 18 months ago. This could have been partially been prevented," he said.

"One of the properties is still being repaired from the last flood."

Mr Bateman said the other property had a brewer living in it, and added: "He got back in about six months ago and he's had to move out again.

"It's the same situation, same problem that we had last time it flooded."

In response, a spokesperson for the Environment Agency said it had worked closely with the community in Wainfleet over the years, particularly since flooding in 2019.

"Over that time, the Environment Agency has carried out significant dredging and repairs to its flood defences," the spokesperson said.

The agency said it was also carrying out a feasibility study into improving the existing defences as well as making improvements to flood warning services.

Meanwhile, a community farm in Lincolnshire is appealing for support to help it recover from flooding.

It is the second time the farm has been affected within 15 months, and comes just days after it had invested in deep straw beds for its animals for the winter.

Kathy Owen, the founder of Fairfield Community Farm in Ruskington, near Sleaford, said: "We've been fortunate that either the animals have been moved to drier areas or we've been able to raise the level of their sleeping areas, but the clean-up process is now our biggest worry."

Ch Insp Gary Brockie, of Lincolnshire Police, said: "Although the situation is improving, there are some key risks that we need to monitor over the next couple of hours before we can confidently downgrade from a major incident."

On Monday, about 50 pupils and their teachers were evacuated from a school in Edenham, near Bourne.

All the roads leading to Edenham Primary School were flooded and volunteers in 4x4 vehicles drove the children to safety, the LRF said.

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