Rivers remain at bursting point

Ambergate was hard hit by flooding from the River Derwent

Flood warnings remained in place as rivers threatened to burst their banks across Derbyshire after torrential rain fell in the county.

Thousands of homes were without power and trains were suspended after heavy rain battered parts of Derbyshire and east Staffordshire.

Ambergate was hard hit by flooding after the River Derwent overflowed and forced businesses to shut.

Police asked drivers to stay away from flooded roads and exercise caution.

Night shelter

So many roads have been closed because of flooding that the county council has run out of warning signs, a spokeswoman said.

Liz Partington, emergency planning manager from Derbyshire County Council, said services had been stretched.

Many roads remain closed because of flooding

"Chesterfield and the eastern side of the county were quite badly hit. The River Rother burst its banks and we had to open a rest centre at Brookfield School in Chesterfield," she said.

"About 140 people passed through and 60 stayed overnight. People were working really hard on the ground, getting sandbags, that sort of thing and at points services were stretched."

Langley Mill's sub post master Graham Ward complained he had been left to find his own flood defences after Amber Valley Borough Council quoted him £40 plus VAT from for five sandbags.

The council said that in high risk areas, sandbags are available free of charge - once a flood alert has been issued by the Environment Agency.

In Derby traffic problems persisted with the inner ring road heavily congested and jams at the Pentagon Island because of flooding at the Eastgate underpass.

Several roads were closed including the A6 at Ambergate and Matlock Bath, and the A610 at Bull Bridge.

The Derwent, Trent, Erewash and Wye rivers are all close to bursting their banks in some areas.

Disruption also continued on Central Trains services between Derby and Matlock.