Heavy downpours cause flooding

AN EAST riding village green might be expected to be the perfect spot for a picnic – especially in July.

But yesterday, one such area in Langtoft, near Driffield, was flooded after a wet summer deluge hit much of the region.

Several homes in Rawcliffe, near Goole, were flooded as 70mm of rain fell in places.

Phil Leake, of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said it had received around 15 calls relating to flooding.

"We had a call to Rawcliffe after reports of flooding," he said.

"When we got there, the rain was pretty bad and water had seeped into four or five homes.

"We called on our specialist water unit to help pump out the water.

"But many of these properties suffered in the 2007 floods and had their own pumps.

"There was still a weather warning in place for Saturday but it looks like it's moving north so hopefully we have had the worst of it."

There was also flooding at businesses including Leake's Butchers in Market Weighton and Cold Consortium in Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

Fran Preston, owner of Leake's Butchers, said: "The back yard was flooded with sewage after the drains backed up.

"We opened up okay but it wasn't a pleasant job having to clean it up."

Town councillor Keith Lowe said the drains in Market Weighton could not cope with heavy rain.

He explained: "The drains in the town are inadequate. The surface water just pours into the sewage system.

"I want the town council to hold a special meeting with the organisations concerned to sort this out."

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water said it sympathised with those affected.

"Heavy downpours have once again caused problems right across the region in particular on High Street and Southgate in Market Weighton where the drainage system has not been able to cope with the sheer volume of rainwater entering it via road gulleys and highway drains," he said.

"We are working together with the local council and highways agency to assist any customers affected."

Cold Consortium director Ian Gardner said the Holme Industrial Estate in Skiff Lane was badly affected.

He said: "We were flooded and it seems to happen on the industrial estate every couple of years.

"We mobilised the workers to clear the water and it didn't affect operations."

The heavy rain also caused problems on some of East Yorkshire's roads.

Traffic backed up for half-a-mile in both directions at Langtoft after the main road through the village was covered with about eight inches of standing water.

Langtoft resident Mike Whitley said: "The flooding happened at the worst time, between 7am and 8.30am when traffic was at its heaviest.

"The water was deep in parts and caused a half-mile tailback.

"It drained away quite quickly, but the village pond was absolutely full."

There are also reports of flooding in Brandesburton.

Heavy rainfall was expected to continue through into this morning after the Met Office issued a severe weather warning for the Yorkshire and Humber region.