Flooded London hospitals ask patients to stay away

Flooding after heavy rain sweeps across London

Two east London hospitals have asked patients to stay away after their emergency departments were hit by flooding on Sunday.

Whipps Cross is without power and evacuating 100 inpatients and Newham hospital is asking patients to use other A&Es for urgent care.

Ambulances are being redirected after torrential caused severe flooding in homes, roads, and stations.

London Fire Brigade says it has taken more than 1,000 flooding-related calls.

It rescued people trapped in cars and is helping those with flooded basements and collapsed ceilings.

A spokesperson for Barts Health NHS Trust which runs both Newham and Whipps Cross hospitals, said: "Patients are asked to attend alternative hospitals where they can. A major incident has been called across the Trust."

Many of the capital's roads closed due to the flooding, including the Blackwall Tunnel, the A12, and parts of the North Circular.

Stepney Green station remains closed although eight other Tube and London Overground stations have reopened.

A yellow thunderstorm warning remains in place for parts of southeast England.

St James's Park in London saw 41.6mm (1.6in) of rain on Sunday, making it the wettest part of the country.

Residents on a street in Woodford, in east London, grabbed buckets, brooms, and wooden boards to prevent rising rainwater from flooding their homes.

Restaurant manager Mariya Peeva said her neighbor's bedroom was flooded and that her son helped others to protect their homes from the flooding.

Ms. Peeva, 46, told the PA news agency: "My son went to buy some food from the local shop - by the time he came back the whole street and the pavement was already flooded and the water was coming into our front door."

Standon Calling festival in Hertfordshire was abandoned due to Sunday's flooding.

The Environment Agency has six flood warnings in place. They are for two areas in London, near Beverley Brook at West Barnes and Worcester Park.

The further warnings are for:

• Stour Brook from Haverhill to Sturmer -Suffolk
• Bumpstead Brook through Steeple Bumpstead to New England - Essex
• Monktonmead Brook at St John's - Isle of Wight
• Whitwell, Wroxall, Langbridge, and Alverstone on the Eastern Yar - Isle of Wight

A further 19 less severe flood alerts have also been issued, covering most of the capital and parts of surrounding counties.