Fire service rescue 32 from flooded holiday park

Fire crews have rescued 32 people from a holiday park following heavy rainfall from Storm Bert.

On Thursday night, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service assisted at Yarwell Mill, near Oundle, after flood water levels peaked.

People living at the park were advised to evacuate on Wednesday and North Northamptonshire Council was providing alternative accommodation for them.

"Although it’s good news to hear the water levels are falling, people with accommodation at Yarwell Mill should not return to the sites until advised to do so," said Supt Steve Freeman, from Northamptonshire Police and the Local Resilience Forum (LRF).

Emergency services began arriving at Yarwell at about 21:00 GMT on Wednesday to help move residents off the site.

The council has provided a rest centre at Oundle Library for those displaced.

The operation has been scaled back as water levels gradually recede, though a severe flood warning remained in effect for the area.

Fire crews and site management staff have been monitoring conditions, with support from the council.

A specialist water incident manager assessed the site earlier on Friday to evaluate ongoing risks.

Billing Aquadrome in Northampton remained inaccessible due to severe flooding, with residents advised not to return until told to by site management.

The LRF, which includes emergency services, councils and the Environment Agency, said it would continue to treat the situation as a major incident, but aimed to transition into a recovery phase over the weekend.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.