A man’s body has been found in flood water in Yorkshire amid heavy snow and rain.
The man, who didn’t have any personal belongings with him, was found in water near Intake Lane in Beal, close to Eggborough and Knottingley, north Yorkshire.
Police now say they’ve formally identified the man, but efforts to find his next of kin are ongoing.
They think he entered the water on Saturday or Sunday, and currently there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
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Meanwhile, more than 27,000 homes and businesses across Yorkshire and the north east of England lost power after this morning’s heavy snowfall brought the country to a standstill.
Hundreds of schools in the north of England and Scotland were closed due to cold weather today, while airports in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool warned of long delays and cancellations after snow clogged up the runways.
Over 400 flood warnings and alerts are in place in England, with the Environment Agency warning of ‘significant river flooding’ in areas of Lancashire and Warwickshire.
National Resources Wales has issued three flood warnings and 34 flood alerts.
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That’s all for today
Thank you for reading our live updates on the UK’s ongoing bad weather.
We’re closing this blog for the night, but Metro will be back with the latest updates tomorrow.
Dozens of children rescued from primary school cut off by flooding
Around 50 children had to be rescued from their primary school after surrounding roads were flooded following snow and rain fall.
The children were rescued from Edenham Primary School in Bourne, Lincolnshire not long after a major incident was declared in the county due to the poor weather conditions.
Voluntary group Lincolnshire Community Assistance Team said: ‘We have responders on scene at Edenham, supporting other community response groups in the safe evacuation of children from a primary school.’
All children were safely taken home after people with 4x4s and other appropriate vehicles responded to a call for help.
Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, 16 properties in the village of Billingborough were evacuated due to flooding and the village hall was set up as a refuge centre.
A1 closed in both directions after ‘extensive flooding’
The A1 is closed in both directions in Lincolnshire, between the B6326 near Newark-on-Trent and the B1174 near Grantham, thanks to water flooding the carriageway.
Emergency services are on scene, as are National Highways contractors who are trying to mitigate the flooding’s impact.
There’s significant disruption to traffic on the A1 in both directions, as well as on local roads and alternative routes.
A National Highways spokesperson said: ‘Extensive water accumulation is affecting the road, and the closure is expected to remain in place until further assessment and clearing operations are completed.
‘A full assessment of the flood levels and safety conditions is underway.’
Planes cancelled or delayed at Aberdeen Airport
Airline companies based at Aberdeen Airport have had to cancel and delay flights as they have been unable to de-ice planes, with many being rerouted through Edinburgh Airport.
Although the runway at the airport remains open and operational, the respective airline companies have had no choice but to make the decision.
A spokesman for Aberdeen International Airport said: ‘We understand how frustrating delays can be, especially during challenging weather conditions.
‘While the airport is responsible for de-icing runways and taxiways to ensure safe take-offs and landings, the de-icing of individual aircraft is managed by the airlines and their contracted ground handling teams.
‘Aberdeen International Airport has remained open and operational due to the hard work of our team in maintaining the airfield.’
Police appeal for help identifying man found dead in flood water
North Yorkshire Police is appealing for anyone who knows anything about the man found dead in flood water in Beal to get in touch.
They say he may have entered the water on Saturday or Sunday and was wearing brown walking boots, blue jeans with a brown belt, a multi-coloured knitted jumper with a zip and hood and a waterproof coat which was possibly dark green.
The force is asking anyone with CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage, or any other information, to share it with them.
17 people rescued from floods in Leicestershire after major incident declared
The fire service in Leicestershire has had to rescue 17 people and they’ve received more than 200 calls after a major incident was declared in their area due to flooding.
Judi Beresford, assistant chief fire and rescue officer, said: ‘Flooding poses a serious risk to lives and property, and we urge everyone to take these warnings seriously.
‘Our control room and crews are working tirelessly to assist those in need and to keep people safe.
‘We are working with our partners to reduce the impact of this major incident and ask the public to avoid flooded routes when travelling and never to enter floodwater.’
Meanwhile Cimi Kazazi, pub landlord of The Italian Greyhound in Leicester, has been hailed a hero after wading through water to save a woman trapped in her submerged car.
He waded through the chest-deep, bitterly cold water to rescue the 63-year-old woman and bring her back to dry land.
He offered her coffee and food to help warm her up after the scary incident.
National Rail tells passengers to ‘please check before you travel
The Met Office have issued a number of yellow weather warnings up to Wednesday 8 January, covering parts of England, Scotland and Wales – scroll down to find the full list.
Plus, some rail operators are still impacted by incidents from previous weather issues over the last week.
These are the ongoing incidents on the rail network caused by the poor weather:
- Buses replace trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Poor weather is affecting Great Western Railway services
- Poor weather is affecting Merseyrail services
- Poor weather is affecting Northern services
- Poor weather is affecting affect ScotRail services
- Poor weather is affecting TransPennine Express services
- Disruption between Peterborough and Leicester
- Disruption between Derby and East Midlands Parkway / Nottingham
- Disruption between Crewe and Runcorn
- Disruption between Birmingham Moor Street and Stratford-upon-Avon via Whitlocks End
- Poor weather may affect LNER services
Snow traps 38 people inside Britain’s highest pub
It’s definitely not the worst place you could end up being snowed in.
Read more here:
Met Office latest after further weather warnings in place later this week
Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Frank Saunders, said: ‘Hail, sleet or snow showers are expected to affect parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, spreading to Wales and parts of northwest England this evening, before moving into part of southwest England, the Midlands and southern England during the early hours of Tuesday.
‘Rain or hail is more likely towards some western coasts.
‘Icy stretches which develop overnight as a result of these showers, or the recent wet conditions, could bring some disruption to travel.
‘In addition to the ice, we could see snow accumulations of a few cm above 200m, with a chance of greater than 5cm above 200m in Wales.
‘The heaviest snow showers may also produce temporary accumulations of 0-2cm at low levels.
‘It is not possible to say exactly where this snow might fall, so it’s important that people are prepared.’
Things look to turn more settled towards the end of the week, although further weak fronts may push in from the west on Friday and into the weekend, which may possibly bring a little more snow to some parts.
Map shows where 169 flood warnings are in place across the UK
Find out more here:
Boy, five, builds the most incredible snowman
Met Office predicts ‘sunny spells’ in parts of the country this afternoon
The Met Office has forecast sunny spells in parts of the UK this afternoon, although parts of the country will still feel the effects of the cold snap.
Temperatures across the country temperatures will remain cold, the forecaster added.
A warning for snow and ice is in place across most of south-west England and Wales, and parts of north-west England and the West Midlands, for between 5pm on Monday until 10am on Tuesday.
The same warning is in place for western and northern parts of Scotland for between 4pm on Monday until midday on Tuesday, and in Northern Ireland between 3pm on Monday until 11am on Tuesday.
Over 30 people trapped in Britain’s Highest Pub after getting snowed in
More than 30 people are currently snowed in at Britain’s highest pub after an Arctic blast swept across the UK.
Customers who had trekked to Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire – which is is 528 metres (1,732 ft) above sea level – on Saturday were today still holed up in the world famous boozer.
Despite amber warnings of snow, 32 guests attended the pub on Saturday night and have remained cut off ever since, along with six staff who were on duty.
Manager David Rowell, 43, said: ‘Staff are a little tired, but other than that it’s all right. The staff that are currently here, this is day seven for them working here. This [Monday] will be their third day stuck.
‘I’ve managed to avoid snow-ins in the past, but it’s caught up with us eventually, so it’s my turn this time.
‘We have three real fires, and obviously we run off a generator so the heating is on “constant” at the moment.’
The pub’s electric power comes from a generator and there is enough food for about a month – and around two week’s worth of beer.
Those locked in have played cards and board games to keep entertained, while a young boy performed improvised dance routines to the group he was travelling with.
Paul, from Katherine in the Northern Territory, said he had never seen real snow before his holiday – with temperatures at home at around 30°C.
The 52-year-old, who is travelling with his wife, his 22-year-old son, sister-in-law, four-year-old nephew, and two friends, said: “I think it’s hilarious, I love it.
‘I’ve seen generated snow in snow fields in Australia, but nothing like this in regards to white-outs.
‘Driving through Scotland and York, the amount of snow we’ve seen covering everything is unbelievable, we can’t believe how white everything is.
‘There’s a lovely group of people here, the people that run this place are so warm and welcoming and friendly.
‘The poor staff that are here were all meant to go out the other day, they’ve had to stay because they’re snowed in, and these guys are working from like five-thirty and six in the morning through to 11 at night.
‘I’m sitting at the window at the moment watching one of them shovel snow off the steps so people can walk outside.’
Major incident declared in Leicestershire and Rutland
A major incident has been declared in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland after widespread flooding in the two counties and city.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said it had received more than 200 calls on Monday morning and 17 people had been rescued after rising water levels.
Judi Beresford, assistant chief fire and rescue officer, said: ‘Flooding poses a serious risk to lives and property, and we urge everyone to take these warning seriously.
‘Our control room and crews are working tirelessly to assist those in need and to keep people safe.
‘We are working with our partners to reduce the impact of this major incident and ask the public to avoid flooded routes when travelling and never to enter flood water.’
Over 27,000 homes in Yorkshire left without power
More than 27,000 homes and businesses across Yorkshire and the North East of England lost power during the cold snap, network operators Northern Powergrid said.
The firm said its teams have worked around the clock to restore electricity supplies to all but around 100 customers by Monday lunchtime.
A spokesperson said: ‘Our network continued to be impacted by the wintry weather conditions overnight, leading to customers predominately across Yorkshire and Northumberland experiencing power cuts.
‘We want to thank our customers for their patience.
‘We understand how difficult a power cut can be, particularly in these conditions, and our teams will continue to work until all of our customers’ power is back on.’
Flooding in midlands is ‘worst we’ve ever seen’
Sonia Wheatley, a support worker from Loughborough in the East Midlands who missed work on Monday due to flooding on the roads, said it is the worst she has seen in the area.
Mrs Wheatley, 52, whose husband also missed work, told the PA news agency: ‘I’ve never missed work before because of the weather.
‘Last year when it flooded, I managed to get through the floods, but it’s never been this bad.’
Mrs Wheatley left earlier on Monday morning in anticipation of the flooding but said the water became too high to risk going through.
‘There’s no rain at the moment, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to get through tomorrow,’ she added.
The big north/south weather divide right now
(Picture: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
These two pictures show how the north and south are dealing with two very different weather extremes.
While people in the north are shovelling cars out of the snow, those in the south are seeing their vehicles disappear beneath several feet of water.
Latest weather warning maps
Here you can see the latest yellow warning maps from the Met Office for today and tomorrow.
The yellow snow and ice warning for western England and Wales starts today at 5pm and runs until tomorrow at 10am
The Northern Ireland warning starts at 3pm today and ends at 11am tomorrow.
The northern Scotland warning starts at 4pm today and lasts until noon tomorrow.
As you can see, parts of northern England and southern Scotland – under a yellow warning today – are set to escape the worst of the weather tomorrow.
In pictures: Flooding chaos
While some parts of the country battle snow, other areas are dealing with flooding chaos.
Some people, like the motorists in Derbyshire below, have to contend with both.
In Pictures: Locals clear snow in Northumberland
MORE: Map shows monster US winter storm bringing most snow in a decade
MORE: Snow traps 38 people at Britain’s highest pub
MORE: Map shows where 169 flood warnings are in place across the UK
