Flood-hit Northants residents describe Storm Bert aftermath

As rain battered the windows on Sunday night, it became clear to residents in Northamptonshire that widespread flooding would be happening again – just weeks after the county got a soaking in September.

The aftermath of Storm Bert has seen a major incident being declared, with many people forced to leave their homes, roads being closed and a railway station being submerged.

Among the worst hit have been the 1,000 people evacuated from Billing Aquadrome, after the overflowing River Nene flooded the caravan site for the fourth time this year.

What has it been like for those left to pick up the pieces?

Louise Pledger was told to leave Billing Aquadrome, close to Northampton, at short notice in the early hours of Monday.

She says the aftermath has left her “concerned about my kids”.

“I’ve seen footage and everywhere is literally underwater,” she says.

“My kids are in a bad way. They’re sleeping on their nan’s floor [and] I’ve had to sleep in a car.

“It’s freezing. All I’ve got is the clothes I’m wearing – that’s it, nothing else.”

Malcolm Clipstone is staying at the Lings Forum Leisure Centre, along with about 60 other residents of Billing Aquadrome.

West Northamptonshire Council set up the rest centre for those without alternative accommodation, and has provided places to stay for another 50 residents.

The 87-year-old says when he saw the water he tried to leave in his car, but got stuck.

“The water was up to my waist and I had to force the door open against the current to get out, and then I had to wade through it to a decking and then just wait to be rescued,” he says.

He was taken off site in a tractor and trailer.

Mr Clipstone, who lives on his own, says he has now, thankfully, “got some pants” after he was unable to grab any clothes when he left.

He believes his caravan is not flooded, “but then, the car’s underwater”, he says.

Nearby businesses at Billing have also been flooded, including the Oriental Paradise restaurant.

Win Sun Sung, who works at the eatery, says: “I knew it was flooded because the alarm system was on overnight, and in the morning the water was at knee level.”

He says he and other staff were able to get “some stuff” out of the restaurant, but adds: “We can’t do anything.”

The restaurant will be closed for at least a week, he says, with several bookings having to be cancelled.

Robyn Harper lives in Weedon and her house was flooded on Monday, which she says has “never happened before”.

“I wasn’t expecting it to rain that much, but it was like a river came down our street and in through the garage,” she says.

“The Christmas presents are in the garage – they’ve all been soaked, so I’ve got to dry them out and hope that they are recoverable.”

She says her kitchen and hallway have also been underwater.

Geoffrey Smith, chief executive of Meadow Bay Villages which owns Billing Aquadrome, says “flood resilience is our top priority”.

He says £700,000 of the initial £4m reserved for flood measures has already been spent on the site.

“Meadow Bay Villages remains steadfast in its commitment to implementing long-term flood resilience measures,” he adds.

Meanwhile, the leader of West Northamptonshire Council, Adam Brown, says river levels in some cases have been higher than the damaging floods in 1998, but newer defences have mitigated the worst of what could have happened.

“In the aftermath… we can review what happened and what could be improved,” he says.