Motorist rescued from floodwaters near River Wreake

A crew from the Birstall fire station and a technical rescue team from the city’s Southern station were deployed to the incident, on Broome Lane, where a flood alert is currently in place.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, which responded to the emergency at 1.45pm, said: “We received a call from a driver who had driven into flood water with water up to the top of the wheels.

“The driver was unable to leave the vehicle due to the depth and flow of the water

“The male was rescued from his vehicle by a water rescue team and led to safety using an inflatable sled.”

A flood alert is in place for Ratcliffe and others villages close to the River Wreake.

The Environment Agency say river levels remain high at the Frisby and Brentingby Dam river gauges as a result of heavy rainfall.

Flooding of roads and farmland is expected to continue until at least tomorrow morning.

Areas most at risk are low-lying agricultural land and roads including Mill Lane and Water Lane at Frisby on the Wreake, Station Road at Thrussington, Broome Lane at Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Frisby, farmlands at Hoby, Brooksby, Thrussington, Ratcliffe and Syston.

Further light rainfall showers are expected during the day today, and further rainfall and snow over the weekend.

Residents in these areas are asked to avoid using low-lying footpaths near local watercourses and plan driving routes to avoid low-lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.