Warwickshire racecourse and roads affected by flash flooding

[dutchman]

Warwickshire Police urged motorists to drive according to the condition of roads



A racecourse and several roads were affected by flash flooding after heavy rain fell in Warwickshire.

Warwick Racecourse said its scheduled Kingmaker Day on Saturday was abandoned due to a waterlogged course.

On Friday there were dozens of flood warnings in place for the West Midlands, which meant flooding was expected, alongside 28 flood alerts.

Warwickshire Police urged motorists to slow down and drive according to the condition of roads.

Tom Ryall, clerk of Warwick Racecourse, said there was 36mm (1.5inches) of rain on their grounds overnight.

"The home straight is currently underwater and we've unfortunately had to abandon our Kingmaker Chase day tomorrow," he said.

In a post on social media, a spokesperson for the racecourse added tickets would be refunded automatically.

Elsewhere, Main Road between Brandon and Wolston in the county was left underwater, with residents using sandbags on doorways to protect their properties.

The Saxon Mill pub on Coventry Road in Warwick, next to the River Avon, saw flooding in its outside dining area.

Charlecote Park, near Warwick, was also closed on Friday due to extensive flooding.

It was the second time the estate was affected by flooding this year after river banks burst in January and the venue suffered the worst flooding for more than a decade.

In Kenilworth, some allotments were submerged and Pete Hayes, Kenilworth Allotment Tenants' Association chairman, said it was concerning that the frequency of flooding seemed to be increasing.

"We accept there's nothing we can do about it and thankfully at this time of year the allotments are relatively quiet," he added.