Flood-hit schools shut for months

Alternative arrangements are being made at other schools for thousands of pupils for the remainder of the term.

Some of the nine closed schools in Hull have suffered sewage contamination to playgrounds. Four primary schools in the East Riding are also closed.

A flood warning is still in place for east and west Hedon, but it is no longer classed as severe.

Fire crews are constantly pumping water out of Burstwick Drain to minimise the risk of flooding.

Worst-hit schools

• East Riding: Hedon Inmans Primary
• St Mary and St Joseph RC Primary, Pocklington
• Cottingham Croxby Primary
• Anlaby Acre Heads
• Hull: Sydney Smith Secondary
• Rokeby Park Primary
• Westcott Primary
• Tilbury Primary
• Bude Park Primary
• Sutton Park Primary
• St James Primary
• Thorpe Park Primary
• Ganton Special School

East Riding of Yorkshire Council said people would be informed immediately by police if there was any immediate danger or deterioration in the situation.

Humberside Police said patrols were being stepped up over the weekend to ensure an increased presence in areas where residents had been forced to leave their homes.

A force spokesman said 10,600 homes had been flooded in Hull, another 1,000 in the East Riding and more than 500 in North East Lincolnshire.

Some 550 commercial premises had also been flooded, many suffering "significant damage".

More than 50,000 sand bags have been distributed across the area.

Hedon residents have been urged not to visit the council's depot in the hope of collecting sandbags.

Army back-up

A spokesman said: "The large queues of cars and people are slowing our efforts to respond to the problems caused by the severe weather.

"We are getting more sandbags as soon as possible and we will distribute them to areas and properties assessed as being at real and imminent risk of flooding."

People in the region have been warned to brace themselves for more flooding.

The army continue to maintain a presence and will provide back-up if required over the weekend.

Forecasters say up to 50mm (2ins) of rain could fall in parts of England on Saturday, and the Met Office has issued an early warning of severe weather.

Sandbag barriers are being built at vulnerable sites and council workers were cleaning gullies and drains in preparation for more heavy rain.

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