The rain has certainly arrived in North Notts. Locals report say that the Trent has flooded around Gainsborough and the Idle valley is flooded at Bawtry, Welham and Retford. The Chesterfield canal hereabouts is OK, but it stands above the river around Retford so excess water can drain away. Our lane is awash and the water was about a foot deep where it joined the main street and was nigh impassable for about four hours. Behind our house a lake has formed with a number of ducks (visitors from the canal I assume) swimming about. The quiet little beck that normally trickles past the bottom of our back garden is today a roaring torrent of brown muddy water about four or five feet deep, though thankfully its level has dropped by a foot or so this afternoon. Needless to say we and our neighbours were getting quite concerned. I can't use the car until the road clears, so it's 'wellies' on to go to the local tonight. Not as bad a June last year though! Arthur Naylor
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