Shocking pictures show flood victims being rescued from their homes

On Wednesday more than 30 firefighters battled the floods in Riseley, Upper Dean, Little Staughton, Carlton, Stevington, Upper Shelton and Knotting Green areas.

Ian McLaren, Borough Commander North, who led the Fire Service’s operations, said: “At 11.33am Firefighters from Kempston Fire Station rescued a woman and a child from a car trapped by flood waters in Church Street, Upper Dean and at 12.55pm an elderly lady was rescued by crews from Bedford Fire Station from flood waters at her home in High Street, Riseley.

“Riseley and Upper Dean suffered most seriously from the flooding and Aqua sacs were used by Firefighters to help hold back flood waters. Fire officers were sent to the area to monitor water levels to advise on potential further

flooding.

“I’d like to thank all the Officers, Firefighters and Control Staff that worked tirelessly yesterday to ensure we protected local people from the worst of the flooding and helped minimise the disruption wherever possible. They did are great job.”

In all six Fire Officers, twenty-five Firefighters and two ancillary staff were deploy across North Bedfordshire in five fire engines, the Rescue Support Unit, Special Rescue Unit, the Operation Support Unit and the Fire Service’s Flood Rescue Boat from Harrold during the afternoon to rescue people, provide protection for key infrastructure and pump out flooded properties across North Bedfordshire.

Three appliances from outside Bedfordshire assisted.

By early evening the calls were dropping off and flood waters in the areas affected were either receding or at least not getting worse, the service said.

Firefighters continued to assist residents, pumping out homes where needed and going door-to-door giving safety advice o residents about not driving into flooded roadways.

Advice about precautions to protect your home from flooding is on the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum website: http://bit.ly/1HKGI3R