Homes evacuated as flood fears become reality
Heavy rain has swept across Northern England forcing homes and businesses to be evacuated.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed around 60 homes are under water in Armitage Bridge near Huddersfield, and 100 people have been evacuated from a factory in Silsden as fears of flooding became reality.
Meanwhile in Shropshire a driver was rescued after spending the night trapped in her car when it was swept away by flood waters. The 45-year-old woman's car was carried downstream as she tried to cross the swollen River Severn.
The woman, who attempted to drive across a ford near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, could not call for help as she had no mobile phone signal, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Heavy rain has continued to fall across the north of England, Wales and Gloucestershire.
The Environment Agency (EA) has issued warnings for several catchments and communities were urged to remain vigilant as the threat of flooding remains with river levels expected to peak on Tuesday.
Officers from the EA said they were particularly concerned with the Rivers Aire and Calder in West Yorks after rainfall totals of 30 to 50mm of rain were forecast.
Mark Tinnion, regional flood risk manager for the EA, said: "Some flooding is likely to happen in the region, but at this stage it is not thought to be as widespread or significant as the summer floods."
A woman and child had to be rescued by Humberside firefighters after their car got stuck in flood water on the B1246 road from Pocklington to Warter.
As the week progresses, river levels on the Ouse and Derwent are expected to rise. Levels at York are expected to be very high later in the week after the rain has worked its way downstream.
In Yorkshire, Network Rail confirmed flooding had forced the closure of the line between Sheffield and Barnsley. A spokeswoman said the problem was at Elsecar, where water levels had risen over the rails. She said all services on the line between Sheffield and Barnsley were suspended.
Families in Gloucestershire say they have been "living in fear" of a repeat of the summer flooding crisis for more than a week, with warnings in place along the River Severn since January 12.
The EA has a total of 45 flood warnings in place including at the River Severn between Worcester and Tewkesbury and from Tewkesbury to upstream of Gloucester.
