Caravan park forced to evacuate as floods cause havoc in Northampton
Homeowners at a caravan park in Northamptonshire have been forced to evacuate as floodwaters from the River Nene continue to decimate the area.
Seven flood warnings are in place across Northampton after heavy rains fell for much of Sunday and Monday, overflowing the Nene and wreaking havoc on nearby communities.
Among those affected is the Cogenhoe Mill caravan park, which was almost completely submerged by the rising waters, causing residents to flee for safety.
A spokesperson for the site said: ‘We have evacuated Cogenhoe and the touring pitches at this time.
‘The safety of our owners and guests remains our top priority. We will keep you updated as best we can.’
Elsewhere in Northampton, five people and a dog were rescued from boats on the River Nene after a separate boat sank when water burst the banks.
Firefighters were called to the scene after heavy rains caused the river to almost burst its banks, engulfing a nearby houseboat.
A spokesman for the service said: ‘On arrival, firefighters found that the river had breached the side of the bank and liaised with boat owners to offer safety advice.
‘After speaking to firefighters, three occupants were assisted from their boats onto dry land.
‘One boat had sunk at the location yesterday, with no one reported to be on board.’
They added: ‘Crews, including Swiftwater Rescue Technicians, used rafts to rescue two people and a dog from the boats, before leading them to safety.’
An elderly woman also drowned yesterday when her Fiat Panda car veered off a road and plunged into a river where it became submerged.
The victim, aged 77 years, was believed to have died trapped in the flood swollen river for up to four hours before her car was spotted.
The single vehicle incident happened on Monday afternoon in broad daylight and a full-scale police investigation was underway to try to discover the cause of the fatal incident.
Although the rain has subsided today, flood warnings remain in place throughout Northampton and the surrounding areas.
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