- By Alex Moss & Grace McGrory
- BBC News
Waves crashed into the Freddie Gilroy sculpture in Scarborough as the storm takes hold
Storm Babet has brought travel disruption and localised flooding as heavy rain and winds lashed parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Rotherham Central Station has been closed and a number of railway lines have been blocked by flood water, leading to cancellations or delays.
National Highways said the M606 northbound exit slip road at junction 3 in Bradford had been shut.
In Lincolnshire, fire crews have been dealing with various flood incidents.
Helen Tooley, Divisional Commander at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, said it was receiving a large amount of calls of flooding in people’s homes.
“We’ve had a lot of flooding and also some unsafe structures, because it’s been very windy.
“Flooding is starting to go into people’s houses and properties and some accidents on the roads.”
Image source, Grace McGrory/BBC
One resident in Middle Rasen had to flee their home after flooding
Meanwhile, the are four flood warnings in place – two in Bradford, one in Lincolnshire and one for Bridlington seafront.
Both footways on the Humber Bridge have been shut as well as the route closed to high-sided vehicles.
In Middle Rasen, driving conditions have been made difficult by standing water and some homes have lost power.
Councillor Stephen Bunney said one resident, whose home had been flooded, had had to climb out of a window to escape the water.
Image source, Grace McGrory/BBC
People are being urged not to travel unless necessary
He told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: “He woke up early morning and heard the water. He got onto the ground and the water went straight to his legs so he climbed out of his window to make sure he was safe.”
Speaking earlier, Frank de Planta, from the Environment Agency, said staff were preparing for “the worst case scenario”.
The agency had opened its incident rooms in Leeds and York and put staff on alert, he said.
Mr de Planta added that water pumps and sandbags were on standby and flood barriers in York and Hull were ready to be activated.
