UPDATE: Three main roads shut, M1 junction closed, trains cancelled as floods hit Northamptonshire

A14, A45, A43 all under water, as highways teams battle torrential rain
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Flooding is causing chaos on road and rail across Northamptonshire on Wednesday night.

Three major roads are closed following a day of torrential rain.

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Trains are disrupted on both main railway lines through the county.

■ Flooding closed a stretch of the A43 linking the M1 and A5 in late afternoon.

■ A burst water man has shut the A14 heading east from Thrapston.

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■ The A45 is shut from the A14 heading towards Northampton because of flooding near Raunds.

Police are issuing drive safely warnings with hundreds of country roads under water. Photo: @NP_PC1604Police are issuing drive safely warnings with hundreds of country roads under water. Photo: @NP_PC1604
Police are issuing drive safely warnings with hundreds of country roads under water. Photo: @NP_PC1604

■ Junction 15 on the M1 is also affected with on both the southbound exit and northbound entry slip roads.

More floods are being reported on hundreds of major and minor roads as Northamptonshire Highways battle to keep gulleys and drains from being overwhelmed.

A spokesman said: "We have brought in extra crews and are attending reports that put life or property at risk first.

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"We have some roads closed. please drive carefully and expect delays or closures. we are doing all we can to deal with this issue."

Nine Environment Agency flood warnings and 22 alerts are in force across Northamptonshire on Wednesday nightNine Environment Agency flood warnings and 22 alerts are in force across Northamptonshire on Wednesday night
Nine Environment Agency flood warnings and 22 alerts are in force across Northamptonshire on Wednesday night

Traffic heading east on the A14 is being diverted off at Junction 13 but the usual diversion via the A45 is also closed.

A Highways England spokesman said: "Flooding is also affecting A45 at Raunds — which would have been the diversion for the closure. Our advice is to not travel and follow the tweets from Northants Police as the situation is changing constantly.

"The southbound exit slip and northbound entry slip roads on the M1 at Junction are currently closed due to flooding from fields running over into the carriageway.

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"Traffic officers and maintenance crews are currently at the scene.

"The A43 northbound is also closed from the M1 Junction 15A as the run-off from the nearby fields has overwhelmed the drains."

There will be no trains through Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby after flooding north of Kettering and south of Wellingborough forced East Midlands Railway to stop running services between Bedford and Leicester.

And London Northwestern Railway services are also struggling between Northampton and Rugby after flooding at Crick Tunnel.