Heavy rainfall causes flooding in East of England

Flooding in Claydon
Some roads across Suffolk, including this one in Claydon, near Ipswich, have been closed due to flooding [Luke Deal/BBC]

A football match had to be suspended and roads are flooded after heavy rain across the East of England.

At Portman Road stadium in Ipswich, the Suffolk FA Women's Cup Final between AFC Sudbury and Stowupland Falcons was temporarily suspended due to the rain on Tuesday evening.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said more than 70 flooding incidents were reported between 17:00 BST on Tuesday and 09:00 on Wednesday.

A yellow weather warning is in place.

A sign saying a football game has been suspended due to rain at Portman Road.
The Suffolk Women's FA Cup Final at Portman Road, Ipswich, was suspended due to the rain on Tuesday night [Jack Maclean/BBC]
Flooding in Ongar, Essex
Essex Fire and Rescue said it had been called to reports of flooding in Ongar [Essex Fire and Rescue]

Essex Fire and Rescue said it had been called to flooded homes in Leigh, Stapleford Abbotts, Aldham and Harlow.

Six people were rescued from flooded properties, including an elderly woman who was trapped on the first floor of her home in Stapleford Road, Stapleford Abbotts, at about 21:51 BST on Tuesday.

Sandbags were delivered to several areas in Harlow after an "emergency call" to Thames Water on Tuesday night due to overflowing drains.

Hannah Bennett, who lives in Potter Street, said her kitchen had been flooded with two inches of water.

She said: "My whole kitchen floor has been ruined."

Ms Bennett said it took three or four hours to get all of the water out of the house.

"I have used every single towel in my house. I have even used my baby's blankets."

Ms Bennett said Harlow Council had delivered sandbags at around 12:00 BST.

There was also footage on social media also showed flooding in Diss, Norfolk, on Tuesday.

There has also been congestion on the A1 in Hertfordshire, heading north from junction one for South Mimms to junction two, for Welham Green, after flooding and an earlier crash involving four cars.

A yellow weather warning remains in place until 06:00 BST on Thursday across parts of the region, including Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

The Met Office is warning of further flooding and possible disruption to travel.

Road flooded under a bridge on Sproughton Road, Ipswich.
The Met Office has warned of more flooding amid further heavy rainfall on Wednesday [Luke Deal/BBC]
A van driving through flood water in Needham Market
Flooded roads have been reported across Suffolk, including in Needham Market [Luke Deal/BBC]

Essex Fire and Rescue Service has warned people not to drive through floodwater and to find alternative routes.

It urged people to only call 999 if there was a risk to life, saying it received a number of calls on Tuesday relating to the heavy rain.

A flooded field in Coddenham
Fields in Coddenham, in Suffolk, have been flooded [Suffolk Drone Services]
Flooded area of Highfield Park, St Albans
Highfield Park, St Albans, has been partially flooded [Peter Aitken]

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