Floods disrupt Christmas for people across Leicestershire as more rain forecast

Floods disrupted Christmas for people across Leicestershire after heavy rain deluged the county.

Gardens, fields and roads disappeared under water and the Environment Agency warned some people their homes and businesses could be inundated.

About 100 guests expecting to stay at the Priest House Hotel, Castle Donington, for Christmas received phone calls on Christmas Eve telling them the hotel was closing temporarily for safety reasons.

It came after the Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the River Trent. A warning was also issued for the River Soar, in nearby Kegworth.

A spokeswoman for the hotel said: "Following flood warnings from the Environment Agency, we are sorry to announce we have had to close the Priest House Hotel.

"We have taken this action to protect the safety of our guests and staff at the hotel."

Julie Lakin, of Sileby, had been expecting to stay at the hotel on Christmas night.

She said: "They had about 100 booked in and had to turn them away. Here in Sileby there are often floods but after 10 years living here I'm seeing floods in areas that don't usually get it.

"It's crazy – I've never seen the brook so high."

Householders in Croft Road, Thurlaston, had to erect a makeshift dam to prevent water getting into their properties and the road was impassable for a while.

Householder Andy Norton, 45, said: "I've never seen anything like it in the 13 years I've lived in the village.

"Water came down over the field and the drains must have been blocked because it flooded the road.

"The water was beginning to come into the house and into the swimming pool so we built a dam across the driveway to get the water to go into the road and we got pumps out to make sure we kept it out."

Firefighters helped to salvage property after water entered a home in Beauchamp Road, Kibworth.

The garden of gun dog trainer Stewart North's home in Great Glen disappeared under about 3ft of water.

The 52-year-old, of Leicester Road, said: "We have a problem with water cascading off the old A6 into our garden when it rains heavily.

"At the end of November, our garden was flooded and I woke to find all our chickens and partridges drowned.

"This time, the water was 3ft deep in the garden.

"I was anxious as the water level was threatening the kennels where I keep my seven gun dogs."

In Watergate Lane, in Braunstone, firefighters rescued a person trapped in a car stuck in flood water by pushing the vehicle out.

A motorist was also trapped on Christmas Eve in Cranoe Road, Stonton Wyville. Other motorists went to their aid.

A section of the A5199 Welford Road, in Arnesby, was impassable because of flooding and the Tamworth Road, Sawley, was closed both ways at the marina.

The Wreake burst its banks near Syston and Asfordby and fields beside the River Welland were under water.

A group of four horses was seen wading through water in a field off Slash Lane, in the Soar Valley.

Sheila Wilkinson, of Birstall, said: "I heard a woman had to wade up there with a bale of hay to feed them."

The incident was reported to the fire service, which passed the case on to the RSPCA.

Floodwater from the river Jordan has blocked the main road through Braybrooke, south of Market Harborough, for a week.

However, a spokesman for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said yesterday: "It looks if the worst is over, with the water subsiding.

"A number of flood alerts are being lifted and the situation is improving."

After further rain today, the forecast is for dry weather for most of the county tomorrow, followed by more rain at the end of the week.

See the five-day weather forecast for Leicester and Leicestershire here.

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Flood warnings and alerts in Leicestershire

Several flood warnings remain in place in Leicestershire. The agency advice is that those living near flood warning areas should take action to protect their homes. Warnings are in place at seven locations in Leicestershire:

- River Wreake at Frisby-on-the-Wreake

- River Wreake for mills at Hoby, Thrussington and Ratcliffe

- River Soar at Mountsorrel

- River Soar at Cotes and Loughborough Moors

- River Soar at Kegworth Bridge

- River Soar at Redhill

- River Soar at Zouch

Several alerts remain in place where flooding is possible and people living nearby are urged to be prepared for rising water levels. Flood alerts have been issued in Leicestershire for:

- River Wreake and tributaries from Stapleford to the River Soar at Syston

- River Soar in Leicestershire including tributaries from Sharnford to the River Wreake confluence at Syston

- Lower River Soar in Leicestershire including tributaries from Cossington to Redhill at the River Trent

- River Sence and tributaries from Billesdon to the River Soar at Glen Parva

Call the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0845 988 1188 for up-to-date flooding information or visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk for river level and flooding information.

See the Environment Agency interactive map here.

See the five-day weather forecast for Leicester and Leicestershire here.