SUFFOLK was today preparing for a wet Christmas after the heaviest rain of the year caused flash floods in rural areas.The River Deben burst its banks near Wickham Market, and flooding also caused problems in the Gipping and Brett valleys.
By Paul Geater
SUFFOLK was today preparing for a wet Christmas after the heaviest rain of the year caused flash floods in rural areas.
The River Deben burst its banks near Wickham Market, and flooding also caused problems in the Gipping and Brett valleys.
An inch of rain fell across the region in 12 hours on Saturday night – although by yesterday afternoon levels had fallen slightly.
But weather forecasters are predicting more bad weather over Christmas itself – Boxing Day is expected to be especially stormy with heavy rain accompanied by strong winds.
Suffolk police have warned drivers to take care and not to try and drive through the floods blocking some country roads.
The deluge of rain hitting the county had caused flooding on roads and many drivers had been forced to call the emergency services for help after getting into difficulties when trying to drive through.
A spokesman said: "Please do not attempt to drive through the water as you do not know what depth it is or if there are any obstacles."
A spokeswoman from Suffolk fire said most of the incidents had been in the central and south west areas of the county.
She said that the fire service had helped to tow the cars out of the floods and that no-one had been injured.
Crews were called to Onehouse, near Stowmarket at around midday when three people had to be rescued from a car stuck in severe flooding.
Earlier in the day near Debenham, two cars were caught in floods in Grange Church Street, the road running between Stonham Aspal and Debenham. Everyone in the cars were lead to safety by the fire service.
And at Lower Road in Lavenham floods were causing disruption when two more cars got trapped in the water and had to be towed out.
The government's Environment Agency issued Flood Warnings for the River Brett between Hadleigh and Lavenham, The River Box between Boxford and Thorrington Street and the River Gipping between Stowmarket and Needham Market.
A Flood Watch – a lower level of warning – was issued for the River Gipping between Needham Market and Bramford.
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