Significant levels of floodwater expected in Bedford

With flood warnings in place for the River Great Ouse and river levels rising, Bedford Borough Council, Bedfordshire Police and Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue are warning of significant levels of floodwaters to impact Bedford and other parts of the Borough.

If you have been contacted and advised to leave your home due to the threat of flooding, and you can do so safely, emergency services and the local authority are strongly encouraging you to do so.

For this purpose, if they have been contacted individuals are permitted to go to other people's homes, despite the Tier Four COVID-19 regulations currently in place.

The Council has set up COVID-safe emergency assistance centres at Bedford International Athletic Stadium and Bromham Village Hall in Bromham for those people who have to evacuate due to flooding but do not have another location to go to at this time.

Before evacuating, be sure to turn off gas, water and electricity and move any valuables upstairs. Only take what you need such as medication and any insurance documents.

Mayor Dave Hodgson "The Environment Agency are expecting this to be the highest level of flooding seen in Bedford Borough in a number of years, and working with partners we are strongly encouraging people who are at risk of flooding and have been contacted to leave if they can do so safely. If your property is at risk of flooding and there is threat to life, please call 999 and ask for Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue. If you need assistance, there is support and advice available via the Council's floodline on 01234 718007. For this to strike over the Christmas period is really hard, especially after the changes to plans that so many of us have already had to adjust to. But this is a very serious situation- if you can and you've been advised to, please take action to keep yourselves and your families safe."

For updates and advice visit about flood warnings visit https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/warnings