Families urged to leave homes immediately as UK braces for Storm Bella

Many families in Bedfordshire have been urged to leave their homes immediately on Christmas Day as the UK braces for Storm Bella.

Bedfordshire Police have ‘strongly’ advised residents living near the River Great Ouse in north Bedfordshire to seek alternative accommodation amid fears of flooding tonight.

Officers said the request ‘overrides’ tier four coronavirus restrictions in place, with people ‘permitted to go to other people’s homes’.

Bedford International Athletic Stadium and Bromham Village Hall are both to be used as emergency Covid-safe assistance centres.

The Met Office has issued a Yellow warning for wind for the whole of England and Wales as well as the far south of Scotland from 3pm on 26 December to 12pm on 27 December.

An Amber national severe weather warning has also been issued for parts of south Wales and across southern England, with gusts expected to reach up to 60-70mph in exposed coastal locations.

Bedford Borough Council has warned of ‘significant levels of floodwater expected to impact Bedford and other parts of the borough’.

Superintendent Steve Ashdown said officers had visited just over 1,300 homes in the area on Thursday evening.

He said: ‘The river is currently at heightened levels and we’re predicting a significant flooding event by 8pm this evening.

‘If you received one of those notices last night, you are in one of those properties that are most at risk from this flood.

‘We would encourage you to leave if it is safe for you to do so, as soon as you are able to do so.

‘Appreciate the timing of this at Christmas Day is not great, but the risk to you and your family and wellbeing is significant.’

Mayor Dave Hodgson said The Environment Agency was expecting ‘the highest level of flooding seen in Bedford Borough in a number of years’.

He added: ‘Working with partners we are strongly encouraging people who are at risk of flooding and have been contacted to leave if they can do so safely.

‘If your property is at risk of flooding and there is threat to life, please call 999 and ask for Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue.

‘If you need assistance, there is support and advice available via the Council’s floodline on 01234 718007.

‘For this to strike over the Christmas period is really hard, especially after the changes to plans that so many of us have already had to adjust to. But this is a very serious situation- if you can and you’ve been advised to, please take action to keep yourselves and your families safe.’

People are advised to turn off gas, water and electricity and move any valuables upstairs before evacuating.

It comes after 81 flood warnings were issued by the Environment Agency for the whole of the UK.

More than a thousand people were evacuated from the Billing Aquadrome holiday park in Northamptonshire on Christmas Eve

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