County cricket ground turned into a lake by deluge as one town pumps 225 Olympic pools’ worth of water

RESCUE workers in a flood-hit town today pumped out enough water to fill 225 Olympic swimming pools.

But a further 2.3in (60mm) of rain is expected there — with heavy floods elsewhere submerging a county cricket ground.

Up to 600 residents were evacuated after “unprecedented” downpours saw double the monthly rainfall in just three days at Wainfleet, Lincs.

RAF choppers dropped 350 tonnes of sand and ballast to shore up the River Steeping after its banks burst.

The Environment Agency also drafted in two high-volume pumps which shifted 562m litres out to sea.

Locals staying in emergency accommodation were warned it could be Friday before they can return to survey the damage to their homes.

Derek Driver, evacuated with his wife, said: “We’ve lost everything on the ground floor. We’re 75 years old, a bit disabled, so we’re very down.”

He slammed officials for not issuing a warning sooner and blamed the EA for not maintaining the river banks.

But it said: “We spend £80,000 every year maintaining the banks, but this was an extreme event.”

A beloved 20-year-old parrot died after Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in Boston was left underwater.

Fake animals including giraffes were up to their necks at a play area in Stourport-on-Severn, while swans glided through streets in Worcester.

Heavy rain which flooded the Severn also submerged Worcestershire County Cricket Club’s New Road ground and the local racecourse.

A Met Office warning for more heavy rain, lightning, hail and strong winds comes into force at 6pm on Tuesday.

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