Flood wardens standby in Broads as water levels remain high

After months of heavy rainfall and high spring tides this week, an amber flood warning remains in place at Potter Heigham.

Water levels remain extremely high throughout the Norfolk Broads, and it is expected to take weeks for waters to drop to their usual level.

Businesses in the village have been affected by the high water levels, with Nippy Chippy temporarily closing due to excess water seeping into underground extractors, the garden centre and rear car park of Lathams being inaccessible to customers and boaters struggling to access Herbert Woods due to the raised flood barrier.

Senior voluntary flood warden Paul Rice. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)Senior voluntary flood warden Paul Rice and his team - who have been monitoring the situation closely since October 12 - said he hopes for a few dry weeks to reduce the amount of standing water in nearby fields.

Flooding at Potter Heigham. Picture - Mike Page (Image: Mike Page)Mr Rice said: " Waters are receding to normal levels, but it's going to be weeks until the water has dropped in the marshes.

"We are really hoping we don't get any heavy rain for the next few weeks.

"But other than that, there's nothing much we can do at the moment. We just have to wait for the waters to recede further and get back on with our lives."

Lathams' rear car park has been inaccessible due to flood water. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)Norfolk County councillor Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said it could be some time before river levels get back to normal.

There have been claims the £121m Third River Crossing at Great Yarmouth - known as the Herring Bridge - has contributed to the flooding.

But Mr Plant refuted these claims by saying there had been extensive flood modelling and risk assessments carried out before the project began, and the consistent flood alerts were due to heavy rainfall and the recent high tides.

Flooded fields in Potter Heigham. Picture - James Weeds (Image: James Weeds)