A driving instructor was rescued from 4ft of floodwater by a couple, as firefighters stood-by, because they weren’t trained to go into water at such depths.
Filmmaker Jamie Price and his partner Danielle waded into the thigh-high water to help the motorist in Ingatestone, Essex, on Sunday morning.
Crews from Essex Fire and Rescue, as well as an ambulance and police were at the scene, but Mr Price told The Telegraph he was shocked to see the emergency services were not doing more to help.
When he asked them why they were not going in the water, they told him they were ‘waiting for some specialist crews’ because the water level was over 4ft and ‘they were only allowed to go in waist-high.’
It comes as intense rainfall this weekend saw rivers burst their banks, roads cut off in villages and damage caused to homes and businesses.
While Brits enjoyed a break in the weather with some sunny spells on Sunday afternoon, Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell warned it will be followed by the ‘next area of rain’, with heavy rain set to fall in northwest England and Wales on Monday.
Filmmaker Jamie Price and his partner Danielle waded into the thigh-high water to help the motorist in Ingatestone, Essex, on Sunday morning
Meanwhile, a pub in Somerset has been submerged in knee-high floodwater after torrential downpours battered large parts of the country and sparked flooding and travel chaos.
Video footage showed staff at The George Inn, in Croscombe, wading through murky water as they illustrated the ‘sad reality’ for many flood-prone businesses.
Tables and chairs had been moved off the ground as they assessed the damage and waited for the water to subside.
Staff wading through the knee-high floodwater at The George Inn, Croscombe
Furniture was moved off the ground by staff at the pub
One staff member at the pub said it was the ‘sad reality’ for the business which has been flooded again
This week saw one month’s rain fall within less than 24 hours
But after this week saw one month’s rain fall within less than 24 hours, more than 50 flood warnings remain in place for England, meaning flooding is expected, with 20 flood alerts in force for Wales, meaning flooding is possible.
Between 3pm Saturday and 8am Sunday there was 72mm of rainfall in White Barrow, Devon, 52mm in Priddy, Somerset, and 48mm in Croeserw, West Glamorgan.
Villages such as Croscombe, Somerset, have seen the local rivers burst their banks, flooding homes and businesses and causing widespread disruption.
Flood water is also expected to cause severe delays to national bus and train services, whilst motorists are expected to face longer journey times because of road closures.
Houses and businesses in Croscombe, Somerset, were affected on Sunday
A cyclist rides through floodwater on a country in Eton in Windsor, Berkshire, after heavy overnight rain
A flooded road between Whittlesey and Thorney, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on Sunday
Motorists make a splash as they drive through a large puddle following heavy rain in Greenwich, South East London
Some parts of the country are believed to have been hit by as much as 40mm of rain this weekend
There are fears that flooding could cause widespread disruption, as torrential showers this week saw around one month’s rain within less than 24 hours (Pictured: Flooding in Walton, Warwickshire, on Tuesday)
Across England, there are 41 flood warnings in place and 197 flood alerts – the former meaning flooding is ‘likely’, the latter ‘possible’ – as already-waterlogged land is at greater risk of becoming swamped with floodwaters.
Forecaster Craig Snell said: ‘The ground is already a little bit more saturated across England and Wales compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland, so they’ll be a little more sensitive to the rainfall.
‘Some parts could see disruption, transport may be a little bit delayed and if you’re driving on the roads your journey may take a little bit longer due to spray and road closures.’
Motorists driving through floodwater on a country road in Eton, Windsor
Across England, there are 41 flood warnings in place and 197 flood alerts – the former meaning flooding is ‘likely’, the latter ‘possible’
The current spell of wet weather is in sharp contrast to the infamous drought last year, when Britain underwent its driest February in 30 years – with just 15.3mm of rain falling on average.
