Officials warn of more flooding

The clean-up will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds

Council officials in Derbyshire have warned the flooding situation in the county could get worse with heavy rain predicted over the next few days.

The county council has estimated that clear-up and repair costs will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Flood warnings remain in place for the River Trent at Cavendish Bridge, Sawley Marina, Trent Lock, between Drakelow and Clay Mills and Great Haywood.

Several roads in the east of the county still remain flooded.

Mike Ashworth, deputy environmental director from Derbyshire County Council, said he would be keeping a close eye on the situation.

"We've only got a certain amount of resources. There are lots of roads flooded all over the county, particularly down the eastern corridor.

"But with the all the land flooded across Derbyshire, we'll have to react as we're needed."

Ambergate was hard hit by flooding from the River Derwent

A clean-up operation got under way in the north of the county on Wednesday after towns and villages were hit hard by flooding.

So many roads were closed because of flooding that the county council ran out of warning signs, a spokeswoman said.

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

"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."

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.