Around 100 evacuated as RAF called in after river bursts its banks following rain

Around 100 people have been evacuated as military helicopters were drafted in to help efforts in Lincolnshire after a river burst its banks following heavy rain which has battered the UK this week.

:: An estimated 44 people evacuated from the town of Wainfleet All Saints, among about 100 across the county.

:: Military helicopters deployed to Lincolnshire after the River Steeping burst its banks at Thorpe St Peter

:: 170 tonnes of gravel being dropped on Wainfleet All Saints to stop water flow

:: Lincolnshire County Council warns up to 720 people could be affected after the town had more than two months of rain in just two days

:: 13 flood warnings and 46 flood alerts were in place on Friday afternoon, with the majority across the Midlands and North West

:: In Northamptonshire, a landslide stopped an East Midlands Train from London to Nottingham and then a second train that came to help also became stuck

:: Around 400 passengers were stranded for up to eight hours before being evacuated

A Chinook was deployed to drop sand in Wainfleet All Saints to try and stop the flow of water from the River Steeping and a Puma was also being used.

A joint RAF and Army unit are flying in almost 70 one-tonne bags of gravel as the Ministry of Defence said it will continue to assist with urgent repairs.

Some 70 properties were hit by flooding.

As of 12 June, Britain has seen total rainfall of 2.6 inches (6cm) since the beginning of the month, but that is not a record amount.

The Met Office says June 2012 remained the wettest ever with 5.9 inches (15cm).

Spokesman Grahame Madge said: “Although we are at a point where some areas have seen their full amounts of monthly rain, so far we don’t think we’re on track to beat the 2012 record as a wet June”.

“It’s something we do get now and again, which is obviously unwelcome for those people who have wanted to enjoy nicer weather.”

Elsewhere, a landslip near Corby, Northamptonshire, stopped an East Midlands Train from London to Nottingham – and then a second train that came to help also became stuck.

Around 400 passengers were stranded for up to eight hours before being evacuated and one person was treated at the scene in an ambulance by paramedics.

The train operator apologised to customers involved, calling it a “challenging situation” due to rubble and serious flooding hampering rescue efforts.

It also said it was “working hard” to reunite people with their luggage, which it said was being held safely in Kettering.

Forecasters predict more showers over the weekend but say conditions are expected to settle down and it will become milder.

Warmer air building over Europe will see higher temperatures in parts of the South East next week, with the potential of sunny spells hitting the mid-20s.

The Met Office says no further weather warnings have been issued.

(c) Sky News 2019: Around 100 evacuated as RAF called in after river bursts its banks following rain