Down came the rain again and again and again

Man trapped in manhole by flood


Rescuers are battling to free a man trapped in a flooded manhole in Hull where officials have declared a state of emergency amid torrential downpours.

Emergency crews and a police marine unit have been trying to rescue the man, who became trapped on Monday in Astral Close, Hessle.

A woman and three children were earlier rescued from a flooded car in the city.

More than 70 schools were closed and incident rooms set up across the region to deal with the flooding.

Health warning

Emergency services were inundated with hundreds of calls on Monday as flooding hit roads, businesses and homes.

The city's cemeteries and crematorium were all closed due to extensive flooding.

Hull City Council advised members of the public not to travel unless absolutely essential.

Sewage was reported to be flowing into some homes, prompting health officials in Hull and North East Lincolnshire to issue a health warning.

Director of public health for North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust, Dr Tony Hill, advised people to try and avoid coming into contact with contaminated water.

He also advised parents not to let their children play in the flood water.

Glenn Ramsden, of Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said firefighters had received more than 300 calls in just three hours and urged the public to contact the service only in an emergency.

UPDATE: And here is the weather forcast for the rest of England. Quick build Noah's Ark the Great Flood has arrived.