A 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy have been arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of 16-year-old Harry Pitman on New Year's Eve.
Harry had been with friends near the viewing platform on Primrose Hill to watch the New Year fireworks before he was stabbed to death.
The Metropolitan Police said shortly before 11.40pm he had been involved in a "fight with another male" that ended with "the stab wound that took his life".
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A 16-year-old boy who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder has been released on bailpending further enquiries.
Scotland Yard said the two boys arrested remain in custody after attending a west London police station on Thursday.
Image:A vigil took place for Harry in Haringey
Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Grogan, who is leading the investigation, said: "This is a fast-paced investigation, and my team is working around the clock to identify those responsible.
"This is clearly a significant development, and we are keeping Harry's family informed."
DCI Grogan added: "Our enquiries so far have established that there was no racial or gang element to this incident, it appears to have been a spontaneous fight between two people who didn't know each other, that quickly escalated to extreme violence."
Starmer says he would be “open” to making time available for a private member’s bill to allow assisted dying. He says this is the sort of matter that should be dealt with by a private member’s bill. There should be a free vote, he says. And he says he would vote in favour of changing the law, provided there were sufficient safeguards.
This is significant because, without the government being willing to make extra time available, private member’s bills on controversial issues like this can normally be talked out.
Starmer has said before that he favours a new vote on this, but he has not suggested Labour would guarantee time to allow it to pass (assuming a majority of MPs were in favour – which is not a given at this point.)
UPDATE: See the post at 9.52am for the full quote.
Filters BETA
This is what Keir Starmer said in his LBC phone-in about a Labour government making time for MPs to fully debate a private member’s bill to allow assisted dying.
When I was chief prosecutor, director of public prosecutions, I looked at every single case that the police investigated of assisted dying … So I’ve looked at probably more files or circumstances here than many others.
And I, as a chief prosecutor, drew up guidelines to try to make the law we’ve got work reasonably well, on the basis that we had to protect people from being exploited. But on the other hand, there were obvious cases of compassionate acts, usually by loving family members, in accordance with the wishes of somebody who wanted to end their own life.
We tried to make the current law work. I totally feel that we ought to actually change the law. It shouldn’t really be for the prosecutor to try and make the law work when it doesn’t really. It’d be better for parliament to actually change the law.
So I am an advocate of a change to the law. Obviously that change has to be very carefully crafted.
And I think the best route would probably be a private member’s bill, which is normally dealt with on a Friday in parliament. And yes, I would be open to making time for that. I think it should be a free vote.
Asked to confirm he would vote to change the law, Starmer said he would, “subject to it being the right change”.
Q: Do you think the police should investigate the sexual abuse allegations against Prince Andrew?
Starmer said he did not know the details of this, only what he had seen in the papers. But where credible allegations are made, they should be investigated, he said.
And that was the end of the phone-in.
Q: You want to impose VAT on private school fees. But why won’t you remove their charitable status too? If they keep that, they get tax relief on donations, funded by the taxpayer?
Starmer says Labour does not need to change the charitable status of schools to impose VAT on their fees. He avoids the point about how leaving it in place allows them to get tax relief on donations. And he defends the VAT policy, saying schools will not have to pass on the VAT charge.
Q: Should the Metropolitan police be investigating potential war crimes in Gaza?
Starmer says he was “surprised” to learn about this. He did not know this was happening until Boris Johnson spoke about it in a Daily Telegraph story yesterday.
The Met told the Telegraph that it had a duty to support the international criminal court, which is investigating war crimes in Gaza.
Starmer said the brother of a close friend of his was involved in the Post Office Horizon scandal. He said it was a gross miscarriage of justice. The government should speed up the payment of compensation, he said.
Starmer says he would be “open” to making time available for a private member’s bill to allow assisted dying. He says this is the sort of matter that should be dealt with by a private member’s bill. There should be a free vote, he says. And he says he would vote in favour of changing the law, provided there were sufficient safeguards.
This is significant because, without the government being willing to make extra time available, private member’s bills on controversial issues like this can normally be talked out.
Starmer has said before that he favours a new vote on this, but he has not suggested Labour would guarantee time to allow it to pass (assuming a majority of MPs were in favour – which is not a given at this point.)
UPDATE: See the post at 9.52am for the full quote.
Starmer says junior doctors have a “good case” when they say they deserve a pay rise.
He says Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, should be negotiating with them now.
Q: What do you think about the BMA saying junior doctors should not go back to work during the strike when hospitals call an emergency?
Starmer says he is “troubled” by this. Until now the system for an emergency override has been working well. He says he does not know why that has broken down now.
Q: How will you decide what level of borrowing is sensible?
Starmer says Labour will put money into its green energy plan, but it will be “an agile investment”. He says he wants to know what the money will be for. It is designed to bring in private sector investment.
Q: Can you guarantee that Labour will get investing up to £28bn a year at some point during the first term?
Starmer says that will be subject to Labour’s fiscal rules.
He says he is “confident” he can get to that figure. But the fiscal rules come first.
Q: So it’s a gold-plated ambition, not a pledge?
It’s a “confident ambition”, says Starmer.
Q: Will you raise the income tax threshold to help lower-paid people?
Starmer says he does want to lower the tax burden for working people. But he won’t make unfunded promises he cannot keep. That is what Liz Truss did. And the economy crashed, he says.
Starmer says he does not accept that. He says he wants to bring the tax burden down, but he wants to do it by promoting growth.
He says there has been too much chopping and changing. The year before last, there were four chancellors, he says.
Keir Starmer is starting his LBC phone-in.
Nick Ferrari is presenting.
Q: You talked about Project Hope yesterday. Was the speech mission accomplished?
Yes, says Starmer. He says he wanted to weld together hope with the reassurance already provided.
Q: Some papers say the speech was thin on detail.
Starmer says every year people say this. Last year he set out five big missions in massive speeches. Then people complain he is being too ambitious, and ask if he can achieve what he wants.
And the following year – people ask what he stands for, he says.
He says, as an example, he has a mission to halve violence against women and girls. That will be hard to do, he says. But people cannot really complain that they don’t know what he stands for.
Good morning. Keir Starmer will be doing his “Call Keir” phone-in on LBC shortly. We heard quite a lot from him yesterday, but there is always more to ask, and he might have more to say about the timing of the general election. Despite Rishi Sunak saying yesterday that he does not expect to call a May election.
Labour sources, who spent the last few weeks talking up the prospects of a spring poll, almost certainly to roll the pitch for attacks on Sunak for “bottling” it, are claiming they are not convinced. In her London Playbook briefing for Politico, Eleni Courea reports:
Senior Labour strategists tell Playbook they still think that’s when it will take place. One senior party official bet £100 last night that the GE will happen between April and June.
But Prof Sir John Curtice, Britain’s leading elections expert, told the Today programme this morning that for a long time he has been planning his schedule on the assumption that he will need to be on duty for an election in October or November. He said:
Now, there is beginning to be a consensus it might be 14 November.
All the parties have decided to hold their party conferences rather early next autumn.
The prime minister will end the Conservative conference on 2 October. That might be the starting gun.
Starmer is on LBC at 9am. Otherwise, the diary looks quiet today, but Sunak is doing a visit in northern England in the late morning.
If you want to contact me, do try the “send us a message” feature. You’ll see it just below the byline – on the left of the screen, if you are reading on a laptop or a desktop. This is for people who want to message me directly. I find it very useful when people message to point out errors (even typos – no mistake is too small to correct). Often I find your questions very interesting, too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either in the comments below the line; privately (if you leave an email address and that seems more appropriate); or in the main blog, if I think it is a topic of wide interest.
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By James Gregory
BBC News
Hundreds of homes have been flooded in England following a powerful storm and a week of heavy rainfall.
There are around 300 flood warnings in force, the majority in the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England, with many residents forced to evacuate their properties.
Flooded roads and railway tracks are bringing more delays for travellers.
A major incident has been declared in Nottinghamshire along the banks of the River Trent.
Nottinghamshire County Council said more than 100 homes had been flooded, with the potential for the number to increase as Friday progresses.
Neil Clarke, leader of Rushcliffe Council in Nottinghamshire, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that water levels on the River Trent were starting to drop slightly but the situation remained serious.
The Environment Agency said the river's levels were some of the highest seen in 24 years.
The agency's executive flood director, Caroline Douglass, told BBC Breakfast more than 1,000 properties had been flooded this week in England, including hundreds overnight into Friday.
Some 50 properties on Alney Island in Gloucester had been evacuated, she added.
"We're a country that's wet and we always do get a lot of rainfall," Ms Douglass said.
"Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.
"That's been topped up over the pre-Christmas period [and] that rainfall from this week has just added to that, so there's nowhere for the water to go.
"In that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we've seen and probably in areas where people aren't used to it."
Overnight into Friday, 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called out to an incident in east London, after reports of flooding on Smeed Road in Hackney Wick.
A safety cordon has been put in place, with London Fire Brigade saying it is working to divert the floodwaters.
Also in London, a party boat moored at Temple Pier on the River Thames sank on Thursday amid heavy rainfall.
PA Media
Heavy rain has fallen on ground already saturated by Storm Henk, which caused disruption across large parts of England earlier this week.
Several rivers have burst their banks, including the Trent in Nottinghamshire and the Severn in the West Midlands and West of England.
At just after 10:00 GMT, there were more than 3290 flood warnings in place across England - meaning flooding is expected - and more than 320 flood alerts in place - meaning flooding is possible.
Natural Resources Wales said there were two flood warnings and 12 alerts in place.
The Environment Agency, which issues flood guidance for England, said ongoing impacts from this week's rainfall were likely across much of the country over the next five days.
The highest rainfall totals recorded on Thursday were 35.2mm in the village of Otterbourne in Hampshire, while between 20 and 30mm fell across much of southern England.
A Met Office yellow warning for rain covering the south expired at 03:00 GMT on Friday.
Liam Ball/ Handout
Train companies have warned that flooding is impacting on services.
Great Western Railway, which connects London with south-west England and south Wales, said there was "significant disruption on the network" which was expected to last throughout the course of the day due to displaced trains and crew.
Several routes have been closed, including between Yeovil Junction and Exeter following a landslip near Crewkerne.
Rail services on Thameslink, which runs through Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire via central London to Kent and East Sussex, are also affected on Friday following a landslip at Arlesey.
In Gloucestershire, between the towns of Gloucester and Lydney, flooding is blocking all services - affecting CrossCountry and Transport for Wales services.
The disruption is expected to continue until at least Friday morning.
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Showers will continue into Friday morning, according to forecasters, and are likely to affect parts of south-west and eastern England, Wales and areas in Scotland.
On Thursday, parts of Worcestershire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, north Yorkshire and Sussex were submerged.
Experts say a warming atmosphere increases the chance of intense rainfall and storms.
However, many factors contribute to extreme weather and it takes time for scientists to calculate how much impact climate change has had on particular events - if any.
The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
Do you live in a region affected by the adverse weather? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
Hundreds of flood alerts and warnings remain in place across England and Wales following a week of heavy downpours.
It comes as weather is expected to be drier on Friday and into the weekend.
This week, heavy rain has fallen on sodden ground in the wake of Storm Henk, leading to flooding and people having to evacuate their homes.
A major incident was declared in Nottinghamshire along the banks of the River Trent.
Late on Thursday, Nottinghamshire County Council said more than 100 homes had been flooded, with the potential for this number to increase into Friday with water levels expected to rise further.
As of Friday morning, there were 302 flood warnings in place across England and Wales, meaning flooding is expected, with 330 flood alerts in place - meaning flooding is possible.
Guidance on flooding is issued by the Environment Agency in England and Natural Resources Wales.
A Met Office yellow warning for rain covering the south of England expired at 03:00 GMT on Friday.
Liam Ball/ Handout
Overnight into Friday, 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called out to an incident in east London, after reports of flooding on Smeed Road in Hackney Wick.
A safety cordon has been put in place, with London Fire Brigade saying it is working to divert the floodwaters.
Showers will continue into Friday morning, according to forecasters, and are likely to affect parts of south-west and eastern England, Wales and areas in Scotland.
Stefan Laeger, of the Environment Agency, said: "Significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible across parts of the Midlands and the south and east of England on Thursday and Friday due to heavy localised rainfall falling on already very saturated catchments.
"Ongoing minor impacts are also likely across much of England over the next five days as some larger rivers slowly respond to recent and forecast rain."
On Thursday, parts of Worcestershire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, north Yorkshire and Sussex were submerged.
Train companies have warned that flooding is impacting on services.
Great Western Railway, which connects London with south-west England and south Wales, said several routes had been closed, and is urging customers not to travel.
In Gloucestershire, between the towns of Gloucester and Lydney, flooding is blocking all services - affecting CrossCountry and Transport for Wales services.
These disruptions are expected to be in place until at least Friday morning.
Flooding has also blocked all lines between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall - a route operated by Great Western Railway services.
It is expected to be blocked until at least the morning, with replacement bus and taxi services being provided.
Late on Thursday, Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express services also all warned their services remain affected by the weather.
Do you live in a region affected by the adverse weather? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
The British Medical Association has accused NHS chiefs of bowing to political pressure in a patient safety row over striking junior doctors being called back to work.
The doctors’ union criticised NHS England, saying the process by which medics may be called back to the frontline in “extreme circumstances” risked total collapse because of a failure by health bosses to follow it.
NHS England hit back on Thursday evening, defending local hospital chiefs and saying they were only making genuine requests for help in order to protect patients. It called the BMA’s attack “regrettable” and accused the union of calling into question the “integrity” of local clinical leaders – some of whom it said were likely to be BMA members.
Rishi Sunak also waded into the row on Thursday, giving his backing to the requests. “It is right the NHS does absolutely everything it can to ensure patient care,” he said. “These strikes are disrupting people’s lives and causing an enormous amount of concern.”
The clash came as a senior doctor warned on Thursday that patients will experience “degrading” care and “significant harm” on the NHS for several weeks, amid a “perfect storm” of strike action, winter viruses and dangerously overcrowded hospitals.
The 144-hour stoppage – due to end at 7am on 9 January – is the ninth time junior doctors have stopped working since last March and the longest strike to hit the health service since it was founded in 1948.
The BMA and NHS England have a long-held agreement for derogations, in which junior doctors return to work when there are safety concerns about emergency care. Under the deal, hospitals are supposed to show they have “exhausted” all other sources of staff before recalling striking medics.
The BMA said this had always worked well in previous stoppages. But during the current strike some trusts had refused to provide evidence that they had undertaken these steps, it said.
“This refusal to provide the information necessary to take well informed decisions is fundamentally undermining the derogation process as we are being asked to take decisions about our members’ right to strike without the requisite information,” said BMA chair, Prof Philip Banfield, in a letter to NHS England chief, Amanda Pritchard.
He said: “NHS England, it seems, is wilfully placing the BMA in an impossible situation.
“A number of local negotiating committee leaders have told us that their employers decided to apply for a derogation well in advance of strike action and before alternative solutions could be pursued. In addition, consultants on the frontline in several of the departments we have received requests from, have expressed surprise that a derogation request has been submitted, telling us they are staffed safely.
“We are increasingly drawing the conclusion that NHS England’s change in attitude towards the process is not due to concerns around patient safety but due to political pressure to maintain a higher level of service, undermine our strike action and push the BMA into refusing an increasing number of requests – requests, we believe, would not have been put to us during previous rounds of strike action.”
The Guardian understands about 25 derogation requests had been submitted by NHS chiefs to the British Medical Association by Thursday afternoon, calling on doctors to return to work. Almost all of the requests were rejected, with some still being considered by the union.
Several trusts have declared critical incidents during the strike, and others reported “extreme heightened pressure” and being “exceptionally busy”. One cited A&E waits of “up to 11 hours”.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “The NHS has a robust process in place for seeking derogations from the BMA to prioritise the safety of our patients and this has involved providing strong evidence where the most challenged systems need support.
“Nationally, we will continue to support local medical directors and other clinicians as they work hard to deliver the safest possible services for patients.”
Meanwhile, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, warned NHS patients would suffer “significant harm and trauma” for several weeks as the health service faces a “perfect storm” of pressure.
Patients would be subject to degrading corridor care and those in ambulances could face long waits outside hospitals, he added. Cooksley also said patients would face “significant harm and trauma due to delayed ambulance responses”.
The dire situation on top of the long-term workforce crisis had brought the health service in England to the brink of collapse, he added, but it “will take at least a decade to return to the delivery of high quality acute care”.
On Thursday night Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, said the NHS “doesn’t just belong” to the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee and that the health service “cannot be switched on and off on whim”.
She said the walkouts were having “very serious consequences” for patients and other NHS workers, and promised to start talks in 20 minutes if the strikes were called off.
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Rishi Sunak has revealed the likely timeframe of the 2024 general election – saying he expects to hold it in the “second half of the year” despite intense pressure to call a vote soon.
The PM said on Thursday it is his “working assumption” that he would not send the public to the polls in the spring, as the opposition has been talking up in recent weeks.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer immediately accused Mr Sunak of “squatting for months and months in Downing Street, dithering and delaying”.
The Liberal Democrats – who have also been calling for Mr Sunak to hold the vote in May – joined Labour in accusing the PM of “bottling” a spring election.
Claiming the Tory leader was “running scared”, leader Sir Ed Davey said “squatter Sunak” was “holed up in Downing Street, desperately clinging on to power”.
Speaking on a visit to a youth centre in Nottinghamshire, Mr Sunak told broadcasters: “So my working assumption is we’ll have a general election in the second half of this year.”
The Conservative leader declined to rule out a May election categorically – but repeated his intentions to go for later in the year. “In the meantime I’ve got lots that I want to get on with.”
Rishi Sunak reveals general election plan during visit to the East Midlands
Despite speculation of an autumn poll, Mr Sunak appears keen to wait as long in the year as possible. Isaac Levido – the Tory party’s campaign manager – is said to have pencilled in 14 November to hold the election.
The Labour leader responded to the PM’s comments by taunting him to agree to an election within months. “If he is not being clear, and I don’t think he is setting a date, what is he hiding?”
Sir Keir told Sky News: “I would like to see an election as soon as possible. I think the vast majority of the public want to see an election as soon as possible, and the reason is that the choice now is to turn our back on 14 years of decline and usher in a decade of national renewal with hope and change.”
“People can’t afford for the PM to be squatting for months on end this year,” the Labour leader added.
Speaking to reporters at the end of a speech in Bristol, the Labour leader also said it was “nonsense” to suggest he wanted to duck TV debates with Mr Sunak – saying: “Bring it on”.
Keir Starmer promised ‘hope’ duing a speech in Bristol on Thursday
(Getty Images)
Mr Starmer insisted he was happy to exchange views with Mr Sunak at any time, following reports that Labour aides would prefer he avoid televised clashes. “I’ve been saying bring it on for a very, very long time – I’m happy to debate any time.”
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak dangled the prospect of future tax cuts while speaking to a group of voters in Mansfield. The PM promised further cuts ahead – as he pointed to the easing of national insurance from 12 per cent to 10 per cent.
“We want to do more because as we manage the economy responsibly, we can cut your taxes, give you and your family peace of mind ... and confidence that the future is going to be better for you and your children,” he said. “That is the journey that we’re on.”
The Tory leader appeared to concede that making progress in 2023 had been challenging, but promised a “better year” ahead. “Look, 2023, I’ll be honest, it wasn’t the easiest of years, for any of us, it wasn’t an easy year for our country.”
He added: “I know that 2024 is going to be a better year, I want to make sure that all you believe 2024 is going to be a better year too.”
Sunak speaking to voters in Mansfield as leaders set out stall at start of 2024
The PM claimed that he was confident of improvements because he was now “making progress” on his five priorities – arguing the economy is outperforming expectations and that debt is “on track to be lower and falling”.
Mr Sunak also called on junior doctors to end their strike, as experts warn that it puts his promise to cut waiting lists at risk.
The PM backed NHS leaders after a number of hospitals pleaded for junior doctors to leave picket lines and return to work amid patient safety fears – also known as derogation requests.
“These strikes are disrupting people’s lives,” the Tory leader said. “They are causing an enormous amount of concern to people.”
He added: “It’s absolutely right that NHS leaders, completely independent of government, are making clinical decisions on the ground. And requesting that extra support where they feel that they need it. Of course they have my backing in doing that.”
Ed Davey: Sunak should call election in May rather than ‘clinging on to power’
Sir Keir pledged in his Bristol speech to bring hope to an “exhausted” Britain in 2024, as he accused the “miserable” Tories of “pointless populist” gimmicks.
He said a Labour government would want to cut taxes – but insisted that reversing flagging growth would be the first priority if he takes power at the next general election.
Mr Starmer also conceded his planned £28bn-a-year green energy investment could shrink depending on economic conditions – saying it would be subject to strict fiscal rules.
“The first lever that we want to pull, the first place we will go, is growth in our economy because that’s what’s been missing for 14 years,” said the Labour boss. “Any tax cuts have to be fair and affordable, and we have to be realistic about that. But I think the place to go is to growth on this.”
Storm Henk: Heavy rainfall leads to flooding across England and Wales
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Hundreds of flood warnings remain in place after Storm Henk swept across the UK leaving a path of disruption,
There are 271 flood warnings and 293 flood alerts across the UK today as heavy rainfall is expected to lead to further chaos.
The Met Office has issued a yellow rain warning across the south of England until 3am tomorrow, there is a high chance, flooding and travel delays and cancellations.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert said: “The track of the heaviest rain remains uncertain but there is a chance of 20 to 30 mm of rain falling in a 6 to 9 hour period for a portion of the warning area, with a few places seeing as much as 40-50 mm.
“Much of this rain is falling on already wet ground and therefore, impacts are more likely. Meanwhile, a stalled weather front will continue to bring rain and showers across the northeast.”
Meanwhile, a driver in his 50s was killed when a tree fell on his car near Kemble, Gloucestershire, during Storm Henk on Tuesday afternoon.
ICYMI - Motorist killed by falling tree as homes evacuated after Storm Henk flooding
A motorist was killed by a falling tree yesterday as 90mph winds battered the Isle of Wight, and homes were evacuated, after Storm Henk brought flooding and disruption.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said a man in his 50s died while driving near Kemble, and more than 200 flood warnings remained in place on Wednesday, with severe flooding at holiday parks near Tenby, south-west Wales, and Northampton.
Speaking about the motorist, a Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesman said: “Emergency services, including an air ambulance, attended the location which is between Tetbury and Cirencester.
“Despite the efforts of those at the scene a man aged in his 50s and from the Bath area died. His next of kin and the coroner have been informed.
“The road remains closed as recovery and investigation work continues and motorists are asked to find alternative routes.”
An aerial photograph taken by drone of floodwater from the River Bollin in Little Bollington, Britain
Drone footage shows holiday homes submerged by water
Residents have been evacuated from their homes in Northamptonshire due to flooding caused by Storm Henk.
A flood warning is in place for the River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and this drone footage shows hundreds of holiday homes submerged in water.
While the severe warning was downgraded on Wednesday (3 January), the Environment Agency said flooding should still be expected in the area over the coming days.
Fire and rescue teams could be seen wading through flood water at the site to evacuate houseboat residents in a rubber dinghy, after a path connecting boats to the shore was submerged.
Robert Britchford, one of several residents evacuated from caravans at the site, estimated that around 2,000 people had to leave their properties on Tuesday afternoon.
Residents have been evacuated from their homes in Northamptonshire due to flooding caused by Storm Henk. A flood warning is in place for the River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and this drone footage shows hundreds of holiday homes submerged in water. While the severe warning was downgraded on Wednesday (3 January), the Environment Agency said flooding should still be expected in the area over the coming days. Fire and rescue teams could be seen wading through flood water at the site to evacuate houseboat residents in a rubber dinghy, after a path connecting boats to the shore was submerged. Robert Britchford, one of several residents evacuated from caravans at the site, estimated that around 2,000 people had to leave their properties on Tuesday afternoon.
British Army’s newest Apache helicopter blown over
The British Army’s newest Apache helicopter was blown over by strong winds as Storm Henk battered parts of southern Britain on Tuesday.
The Apache AH-64E attack helicopter, which can cost around £412million, was pictured lying on its side next to emergency workers and a fire engine on an airfield in Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
It is understood no one was injured during the incident, and that all other aircraft remained undamaged. In October, the aircraft was declared “ready for front line duty”.
Weather patterns changing with drier weather expected, Met Office says
The Met Office has said drier, calmer and colder weather is on its way for the weekend.
“The weather patterns are changing. Drier, calmer and also colder weather is on the way for the weekend and beyond,” the forecaster said on X.
It follows a yellow rain warning issued by the forecaster for the south of England on Thursday and Friday with the chance of power cuts and the flooding of homes.
Watch: London Eye hatch ripped off by wind repaired by engineers
A family were left terrified when Storm Henk hit the London Eye and blew off part of the roof of their pod on Tuesday 2 January.
David Nock and 11 family members, including five children aged between 11 and 15, were 400ft up the attraction when a service hatch was ripped off in high winds.
The access hatch was left dangling by metal wires as the pod on the wheel rotated its way back down.
Mr Nock and his family watched on as a maintenance crew tried to fix the broken pod and described the whole experience as “terrifying”.
The popular tourist attraction was later closed “due to adverse weather conditions”.
“The noise was quite deafening, it was a bit of a harrowing experience. The kids all found it terrifying,” Mr Nock said.
A family were left terrified when Storm Henk hit the London Eye and blew off part of the roof of their pod on Tuesday 2 January. David Nock and 11 family members, including five children aged between 11 and 15, were 400ft up the attraction when a service hatch was ripped off in high winds. The access hatch was left dangling by metal wires as the pod on the wheel rotated its way back down. Mr Nock and his family watched on as a maintenance crew tried to fix the broken pod and described the whole experience as “terrifying”. The popular tourist attraction was later closed “due to adverse weather conditions”. “The noise was quite deafening, it was a bit of a harrowing experience. The kids all found it terrifying,” Mr Nock said.
Watch: Water surges close to arches of bridge in Derbyshire village after torrential rain
Residents in Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, were prepared for potential flooding on Wednesday 3 January as the River Wye was swollen by Storm Henk.
Water surged close to the arches of the village’s Sheepwash Bridge after the storm battered the UK with torrential rain and winds of up to 90mph.
Meanwhile, several major roads in England were closed due to flooding with rail companies also reporting disruption.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said a man in his 50s was killed by a falling tree while driving near Kemble, while a separate incident saw a woman in Orpington, southeast London, injured.
Residents in Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire, were prepared for potential flooding on Wednesday 3 January as the River Wye was swollen by Storm Henk. Water surged close to the arches of the village’s Sheepwash Bridge after the storm battered the UK with torrential rain and winds of up to 90mph. Meanwhile, several major roads in England were closed due to flooding with rail companies also reporting disruption. Gloucestershire Constabulary said a man in his 50s was killed by a falling tree while driving near Kemble, while a separate incident saw a woman in Orpington, southeast London, injured.
