Lifelong Retford resident Brendan Hunt, 54, has moved as many of his possessions as possible upstairs and used wooden blocks to lift his furniture, washing machine and oven eight inches off the floor to try to limit any potential flood damage, as water levels could continue to rise in the town.

Mr Hunt said he was at his home until 4am on Sunday trying to move his belongings upstairs.

He said: “Water was coming up through the storm drains and it just got deeper and deeper until one side of the road’s water joined the other side of the road.

“Then it filled the pavements, then it filled everybody’s gardens. It got to within millimetres of coming in the front door.

“It is still right up to the threshold of the front door… the Environment Agency says before 8pm tonight there’s another 30cm on its way.”

Mr Hunt said he is staying at his partner Julie Summers’ home around two miles away from his property.

He warned: “(The damage) could be endless because if the water has got under the sub floors, it could need new floors downstairs.”

Mr Hunt added: “I think I’ve managed to save everything but I think if the water does come in, if not already, they are only chipboard floors. I think they are all going to have to be replaced because the water will have been contaminated with sewage.”

It comes as residents in Retford are being advised to evacuate as water levels continue to rise.

The River Idle is expected to reach record levels as flooding continues in Retford, the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF) has warned.

The group said it expects river levels to continue to pose a risk to life until Tuesday, even though no significant rainfall is forecast.

River levels continue to rise due to upstream watercourses (Rivers Maun, Meden and Poulter) feeding into the River Idle, the LRF added.

Two severe flood warnings, which mean risk of death and serious injury, have been issued for sections of the river at Retford, Eaton and Gamston, and West Retford and Ordsall by the Environment Agency.

The LRF said the warnings had been issued due to flooding in Thrumpton caused by Storm Babet.

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Areas most at risk are Poulter View, Meden Way, New Inn Walk, Thrumpton Close, Maun Close, Thomas Street, George Street, Swans Quay and Gala Way. Residents are also being told to prepare to evacuate in Darrel Road.

Emergency services are supporting residents to evacuate where needed and a rest centre has been set up at Retford Leisure Centre.

The LRF said in a joint statement with Nottinghamshire County Council: “We are closely monitoring the situation.

“Environment Agency incident response staff are liaising with emergency services and local authorities. Stay away from floodwater and do not take risks that may endanger yourself and others.

“Please follow the advice of the emergency services and first responders on the ground. Advice and information is also available through Floodline on 0345 9881188. This severe flood warning is now in force until further notice.”

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