More rain brings flooding threat

Today's heavy rain has brought fluvial flooding to parts of Newark and Sherwood.

Most of the flooding is on roads, pathways and fields following a full night and day of rain. Small streams and becks are also swollen to the point of overflowing.

There has been some minimal disruption to the road network and to public transport.

The chief executive of the district council, Andrew Muter said the threat to property was minimal.

One home on Southwell Road, Lowdham, had flooded as was another at Oxton where the high water table and meant water was coming up through the floor.

Mr Muter said water levels had subsided some, as the heavy rain began to ease late this afternoon.

He said there remained concern over how the high the Trent would get when the water from the streams, becks and fields seeped into it, and when the water from upstream reached Newark and Sherwood.

Areas of concern today included Epperstone, Lowdham, Southwell, Caythorpe, Bleasby, Oxton, Eakring, Caunton, Sutton-on-Trent and Upton.

Advice from the Environment Agency based on today's rainfall is that the river won't reach the level of November when it flooded in places, but did not cause widespread damage to homes, which was described by Mr Muter at the time as having "a hint of fortune about it."

Mr Muter said today: "We are currently looking at the forecast and there is concern about Saturday with the amount of rain forecast.

"We've had people out on the ground today and envisage that opening our control room (at Kelham Hall) again tomorrow.

"We have replenished stocks of aqua sacks in some of the communities where the risk would likely be greatest.

"We are making sure that we are prepared and everything is in place."

The Trent is expected to peak on Christmas Day.