City streets hit by flooding after heavy downpours

City streets have been hit by flash flooding with a number of homes and businesses affected after heavy rain moved through the region on Thursday.

The Labour MP for Peterborough, Andrew Pakes, shared an image of a heavily waterlogged street, with fellow city councillors posting similar pictures of flooding in the St Paul's Road and the Woodcote Close area.

Reports on social media also showed some supermarkets, a library and a gym among businesses forced to shut across parts of Peterborough and Fenland.

Pakes said: "I hope the water will recede quickly but I also know some places where it has entered people's homes and businesses."

Dr Shabina Qayyum, leader of Peterborough City Council, added: "We know that there has been flooding all over the city, especially in hotspots like Lincoln Road, Central Ward, St Paul's Road and Crown Street."

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said it had "started to see an increase in calls around flooding following the heavy rain".

Peterborough City Council said some roads in the city were "experiencing significant surface water".

The authority urged people to take care when travelling, to avoid driving through flood water and to allow extra time for journeys.

The Met Office issued the first yellow weather warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms, which lasted from 03:00 BST on Wednesday to 22:00.

A second weather warning came into force at 06:00 on Thursday and will continue until 22:00.

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The Ortongate Shopping Centre, to the west of the city, was one of the areas hit by flooding.

The Ortongate Sports Bar & Fanzone said it had to close its doors, posting CCTV footage showing the extent of flooding behind its bar.

On Facebook, it said: "Sadly the extent of the damage caused by the flooding and the continuous rain means it is unsafe for us to open the doors to our customers today.

"Walking into the bar this morning has been devastating; ceilings coming down and water coming through non-stop.

"We are unsure when the bar will reopen; these are circumstances beyond our control and we will keep you updated."

Similarly, Ortongate Fitness said that due to an "unexpected leak" it has had to temporarily close its gym, while the Peterborough Telegraph reported that the Co-op supermarket at the centre had also shut.

Cambridgeshire County Council, which runs Yaxley Library, said on Facebook that it had to close the building "due to flooding", but it had since reopened.

Similarly, the George Campbell Leisure Centre in March has partially reopened after it shut its gym and studios due to the rain, but said its pool was unaffected.

In Peterborough, police advised drivers to be "aware of road flooding on the Soke Parkway Eastbound" and to avoid the area if possible.

In the city, the Family Festival has been cancelled due to the forecast.

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: "Due to the location and facilities at the athletics track, the activities cannot be held safely under cover, so we are unable to go ahead as planned."

However, the Peterborough Beer Festival has said it is still continuing to go ahead with its plans, with punters attending the event from 12:00.

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