Roads and rail services in England and Wales continued to be hit on Monday by disruption caused by flooding from Storm Bert, which first hit the UK at the weekend.
As of Monday lunchtime around 140 flood warnings were in place, with a severe ‘danger to life’ flood warning covering areas next to the River Nene in Northampton.
Disruption to rail services mainly hit routes between the Midlands and the west of England and London, as well as in Wales.
Great Western Railway gradually resumed services across its network through Monday, while flooding at Northampton caused severe disruption to London Northwestern Railway services and West Midlands Railway said flooding meant fewer trains would run between Birmingham New Street and London Euston.
Avanti West Coast also said flooding had affected its services through Northampton.
Transport for Wales said its rail services will be subject to ongoing disruption on Monday and ScotRail said travel restrictions on some routes were causing minor disruption.
Image: Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue
A major incident was declared in Northamptonshire after heavy rainfall during Storm Bert caused significant flooding across the county and a severe flood warning was in place on Monday, with Northamptonshire Police warning against ‘all unnecessary travel’.
The BBC reported that a high school bus in Evesham, Worcestershire became stuck in floodwater on the B4080 near Eckington Bridge. Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service rescued 57 children and a driver using two boats, with no injuries.
It said the county had experienced road disruptions on the A5, which is closed in both directions.
Also on Monday, the Wiltshire town of Chippenham was flooded, with the High Street submerged by floodwater after the River Avon burst its banks. Police closed off the A4 Avenue La Fleche into the town centre from both directions.
Storm Bert hit the UK on Friday night and Saturday morning, with roads closed by snow, mainly in the North of England and Scotland, and flights disrupted at Newcastle airport.
