Flooding in England as Storm Bella approaches

Residents of parts of England and Wales on Saturday braced for further flooding and disruption as Storm Bella approaches, following days of wet weather that already saw rivers swell. Graham Windram, whose houseboat was washed onto the banks of Great Ouse river in Great Barford, had to secure his home and ''abandon ship'' out of precaution, he told British broadcaster Sky News.

In Bedford, residents put up flood defences and sandbags to keep rising river waters at bay well into the night, said Jan Schofield, who lives on The Embankment besides the river. Both Great Barford and Bedford were placed in Tier 4, the highest level of coronavirus restrictions in England, but residents were allowed to leave their homes to seek shelter and safety.

''This hasn't yet suddenly allow COVID to disappear,'' Philip Simpkins, Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council, told Sky News. He urged people not to be ''heroic,'' and follow the safety coronavirus guidelines. Flood warnings were put in place in Wales too, where on Saturday winds of 83mph were recorded in the north of the country.