Have the top stories straight to your inbox for free - once a day, every day Yes please! Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Drivers refusing to be delayed by flooded roads found themselves trapped in deep water and in need of rescue today.

Two Mercedes drivers and a man in a van were among those finding themselves stranded after the rivers rose due to recent downpours.

Just before 11am, a Mercedes driver had to be rescued by firefighters in an inflatable raft from the ankle-deep water after driving along the flooded Rearsby Road in Thrussington.

(Image: Â©Lionel Heap 07977 597674)

The man, who was trapped in the vehicle, was taken to dry land by the fire crews from Birstall and Leicester and his vehicle was left in the water.

In a statement about the incident, a spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said: “It's simple - don't drive through flood water.”

(Image: Â©Lionel Heap 07977 597674)

Another Mercedes died in the flood water at about 2pm, in Newton Lane, Wigston.

An onlooker said: “He was in a new 2019 Mercedes and a 4x4 came to help him but the Mercedes was an automatic so they couldn’t just put it in neutral and drag it out.

“The driver was dressed in a suit and he had his trousers rolled up trying to figure out how to move it.

"He didn’t look thrilled.”

(Image: Alex Hannam Photography)

Later in the day, just after 3pm, the fire service was called out again after a van tried to make it along Middleton Street, between Aylestone and Braunstone Town. The water was too high and he had to call 999 so firefighters could use their inflatable to rescue him from the broken-down vehicle.

In response to that one, the fire service tweeted: “Unfortunately this driver forgot he was in his van and not his boat.”

To the south of Leicester, traffic on the A426 Leicester Road struggled to get under the railway bridge between Glen Parva and Blaby, where the River Sence had burst its banks.

The city’s Area Traffic Control service put out a warning of tailbacks throughout the area at midday, which said: “Leicester Road in Blaby is open currently, although it is very flooded at the sides near the Railway Bridge, which is causing congestion. Take care around there.”

One driver sent a reply saying: “Cars are trying to pass on the opposite side. Seems very dangerous.”

By 5.3pm the situation on the A426 got so severe the road was closed to traffic, leading to bus services being re-routed.

'Why do I bother?'

As usual, Slash Lane near Sileby was flooded but that did not stop motorists trying to get through.

In an exasperated tweet to the fire service, the Sileby flood warden said: “How many so far this week for Slash Lane, Mountsorrel Lane and Syston Road?

“I sometimes think,‘Why do I bother advising drivers when they think I know better?’.

“Your vehicle insurance won't cover flood breakdowns!”

By mid-afternoon, the Environment Agency had issued Flood Warnings for the Quorn and Wreake Valley areas and lesser Flood Alerts throughout Leicestershire.

(Image: Environment Agency)

Numerous roads were closed to traffic by late afternoon, including Countesthorpe Road in South Wigston, Brookside in Syston, Syston Road in Cossington, Slash Lane and Sileby Road near Sileby, Granite Way in Mountsorrel and various roads in the Newton Harcourt area.