UK Weather Warning: Borsetshire

You are reading minute-by-minute weather updates for the Am Vale area.

• Heavy overnight rain has caused river levels to rise, triggering a number of flood alerts and flood warnings in the region.

• Further rain is expected today, the likeliness of flooding in the Borsetshire and Am Vale area increasing with many rivers full and land already saturated.

1400: Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the extreme weather that is affecting Borsetshire after days of heavy rain and high winds. We will bring you the latest updates as the situation develops.

1403: After a week of heavy rainfall in and around the region, BBC Weather have forecast an evening of further rain for the county, with high winds.

1415: The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning for several areas in the county of Borsetshire, and predicts that the River Am will peak in the early hours.

1542: We will now take a break from our Midlands coverage as we concentrate on the situation elsewhere.

1658: Thank you for staying with us. We now return to Borsetshire where reports are coming in from the village of Ambridge that water is rising in The Am to unprecedented levels.

1705: Residents tell us that the area does not have a history of flooding. However one local with whom we spoke recalled an uncorroborated incident of flash flooding in 2002.

1730: Reports are coming in that the River Am has burst her banks in several places. Reports of low-lying agricultural land already under water.

1733: Borchester has also seen banks breached in surrounding areas. Motorists are advised to take great care on roads in and around this region and, if possible, to avoid it entirely.

1745: Borchester Police inform us that they are inundated with calls for help from flood-affected areas.

1800: Water has reached the playing fields on Parliament Road in Ambridge. A nearby Nursing Home has flooded and is in the process of being evacuated.

1810: Local businesses, shops and public houses have begun emergency evacuations as the Village of Ambridge looks almost certain to be deluged. Reports that The Bull Public House’s cellar has flooded. Staff are currently working to safeguard the pub.

1830: Ambridge: Glebelands, a small development of executive housing, is being evacuated with locals creating makeshift barricades in an attempt to prevent further water damage. Priority being given to the frail and elderly.

1835: Emergency services are reported to be stretched, many people have been unable to get through and those who have, have been led to believe that help may be some time in coming.

1840: One Ambridge resident resident who preferred not to be named says: ‘Where are the emergency services? They’ve forgotten us. We need help. Now.”

1842: The rain is showing no signs of easing off for the time-being as residents prepare for the worst.

What are the consequences of flooding in agricultural areas? We speak to a farmer affected by previous UK floods...

• Days of heavy rainfall have seen river levels rise in the Midlands. Further rain is expected with heavy winds forecast until midnight tonight.


• The Environment Agency has issued a Flood Warning for the River Am.


1900: Ambridge - the toll continues: Local housing development, Grange Spinney, has been flooded. The evacuation continues as residents are to be moved by trailer to local hotel Grey Gables, while others are reported to have found sanctuary at St Stephen's Church.


1923: Reports that the local Vicarage may be affected. 


1924: A number of roads into Ambridge have become impassable because of flooding. Motorists are advised to avoid the area entirely.

1925: David Archer farms Brookfield Farm next to The Am and, as Flood Warden for the area, is part of the rescue operation. He says "I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve never seen anything like this. My farm is in danger, the village is underwater. We’re doing all we can - getting as many people as we can to safety. That has to be our priority for now."


1927: Local church, St Stephen's, has rung its bell as a sign that it could be a safe haven for anyone in the vicinity who is in need of shelter.


1928: Guest house Ambridge Hall, which overlooks the River Am, is under water. We've confirmed that the previous report of flooding in the area relates to Ambridge Hall which flooded in 2002. The B&B's resident llamas have been successfully moved to higher ground while the B&B's owners battle to save belongings
. The owner's dog Scruff has unfortunately not been so lucky and is currently missing.

1932: Local businesses are struggling to save as much as they can, while they can.

1938: Many properties are now without power in the Ambridge area.

1945: Families are being evacuated from housing estate, The Green.

What protection is your insurance policy likely to offer if you are affected by the wet weather? Find answers in this Q&A on flood insurance

1948: Thank you for all of your text messages and tweets from the flood. We appreciate your continued efforts to keep us informed.

1952: Evacuated residents are now arriving at Grey Gables Hotel.

1954: While sandbags remain unreachable at Council HQ, locals are building makeshift blockades in an attempt to prevent further damage to properties. If you are in the local area, please aid PC Harrison Burns who is leading the rescue operation, while they await emergency services.

1955: However, local residents who are currently safe are urged not to enter flooded areas.

1958: Concerns have been voiced for a local couple, last seen near the riding stables in Ambridge. A boat has been dispatched to search for the missing pair.


2015: Mobile phones are out in some areas of Ambridge so reports coming in are patchy. We are doing everything we can to bring you up-to-the-minute news on the situation.

2025: Three adults have been rescued from flooded stables in Ambridge in a daring rescue by boat. One adult male injured.

2040: Elderly female pulled from her vehicle in environs of St Stephens Church. Little more known currently. Updates when available.

2100: The woman who was rescued from her car has been named as Freda Fry, age 75. She has been removed to St Stephens Church where she is being looked after by neighbours. The vehicle is likely to be unsalvageable.

2102: Adults in incident at The Stables in Ambridge have been named as Shula Hebden Lloyd, 57, owner of The Stables, Alistair Lloyd, 52, and their elderly relative Christine Barford, 83. All three were rescued by oarsman, Rob Titchener, 36. Mr Titchener sustained a head injury during the rescue. All have been removed to safety.

• Borsetshire: Transport disrupted and many homes cut off without power.

• There is currently one severe flood warning in place from the Environment Agency. This is for the River Am in Borsetshire, including Borchester, Ambridge and Hollerton. 


• Emergency services are tackling the situation in Borchester however they are yet to reach Ambridge where residents are doing all they can to help stricken neighbours and protect properties.

• BBC Weather forecasts that rain will ease off at midnight but winds will remain high.

• Borchester Police have advised people not to travel “unless absolutely necessary” because of flooding on roads.




2300: Rain has now ceased over much of the Borchester and Ambridge area but winds remain strong.


2302: Several farms and homes are now unreachable due to flooding. Farmers are working against the clock to safeguard livestock and essential equipment.


2315: Phone and internet now out across many parts of Ambridge. We are working hard to bring you as much up-to-date information as we can from the stricken area.

2320: A spot of good news: A turkey named Lucky has been rescued from a property in an Ambridge housing estate. The turkey's run of luck is said to have begun this Christmas when it was saved from slaughter by Ambridge residents in a local ceremony. Let's hope that Lucky's fate is an emblem for the area.

2345: 3 ft of water now in the worst-hit parts of Ambridge.



0024: Incident reported of an adult male trapped in culvert at The Estate in Ambridge - rescued by local farmer. CPR administered. Current condition or whereabouts unknown.

0028: Ambridge: All residents are reported to have been cleared from the danger zone.




0032: The majority of the evacuees are said to be seeking asylum in upmarket local hotel, Grey Gables [see recent ad, right]. The hotel itself is booked up, with evacuees filling every available space in the reception area, lounge and ballroom. The hotel’s much lauded chef Ian Craig is providing refreshments for the beleaguered locals who in spite of the conditions, are managing to keep spirits up. Reports that the group includes not only adults and children, but also a dog, three cats, a ferret and one cockatiel.



0046: A distinct Blitz Spirit to be observed as most Ambridge locals try to make the most of the situation in which they find themselves. However, some are angry, speculating that they have been forgotten while the local authorities are prioritising “executive homes and riverside apartments” at the expense of agricultural areas.

0058: MISSING: Phoebe Aldridge, age 16. Lives at Home Farm, Ambridge. Last seen on The Green. Phoebe is medium height, with medium length brown hair, blue eyes and is believed to be wearing jeans and a deep blue overcoat.

0111: Missing girl, Phoebe Aldridge has been located at Grey Gables. She is now safe and in the care of her father, who is a member of staff at the hotel.


0204: Rob Titchener, the hero injured in a stables rescue is receiving care at Grey Gables.


0206: We’re standing down for the night. We will resume our coverage in the morning. Good night and take care.

• The picturesque village of Ambridge in rural Borsetshire has weathered some of its worst flooding in living memory.

• A man has been rescued from a culvert on a local farm, with CPR administered.

• Residents will be waking up this morning to survey damage to property and livestock.

• Many locals have spent the night away from their homes in St Stephens Church and Grey Gables Hotel.

0732: Good morning and welcome back to our coverage of the flooding that has hit Borsetshire - specifically the picturesque village of Ambridge. Residents of the village are waking up this morning to discover the full impact of devastation to farmland and homes in the area. This will be the first time that the damage is visible by light. Many people will not gain access to their homes until later today. Some can only guess whether their properties have been affected, having been stranded for the night by blocked roads.


0745: Ambridge resident Freda Fry, who was last night rescued from her submerged vehicle, has been taken to Borchester General Hospital, and is suspected to be suffering from shock. She was pulled from the vehicle by Vicar Alan Franks who waded into the water to save her. He has provided food, blankets and shelter to a sub-section of the community who were unable to reach their homes last night. Just one of many acts of kindness displayed by a community which has pulled together in the face of this - the worst flood to hit the area in living memory.

0802: Farmers have been venturing out this morning to survey damage to crops, livestock and equipment. For many the news will not be good. As yet the cost to the area of the flood is unknown but it is likely to be significant.

0932: We met local farmer Tom Archer who revealed that his farm [Bridge Farm] has emerged relatively unscathed from the flood. He spent the night at his cousin's farm where the milking parlour was under extreme threat - a situation which they now have under control. His other cousin at nearby Home Farm, he admitted, had not been so lucky - discovering this morning that his attempts to move his animals to higher ground had not been successful. He estimates to have lost 8 dead lambs and 20 ewes. He will be moving some of his surviving sheep to Bridge Farm for the time being. “It’s devastating,” says Archer.


1000: In marked contrast to yesterday's weather, the BBC predicts a day of sunshine for Ambridge. The fields submerged in water display a quiet beauty now, at odds with the destruction that the floods have caused.

1002: Emergency services have finally reached the Village of Ambridge.