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    • AS IT HAPPENED: Severe disruption in Maidenhead after thunderstorms

    LIVE: Severe disruption in Maidenhead after thunderstorms

    Photo by Dan Monroe

    A major clear-up operation is underway after last night's storms caused flooding throughout Maidenhead.

    The rain forced early morning road closures in Norreys Drive, Wootton Way, Queen Street, Braywick Road and part of the High Street and also affected parts of the M40 and M4. 

    Thames Valley Police is working with the fire service and Highways England to respond to the flooding.

    Motorists are being advised to only make essential journeys, observe road closures, and avoid driving through flood water.

    3.25pm:

    The roads are back to normal in Maidenhead but road closures remain in place at junction 8 of the M4 westbound.

    Highways England is reporting hour-and-a-half tailbacks going as far back as junction 5, with normal traffic conditions not expected until at least 8.15pm.

    2.55pm:

    Maidenhead High Street has now reopened.

    1.04pm:

    The Kindness Shop in King Street is in need of urgent donations.

    The shop lost a huge amount of clothing due to the floods and is looking for donated clothing including t-shirts, warm jumpers, fleeces and trousers.

    Donations are to be dropped at the shop from Monday to Friday from 10am-noon next week.

    The shop is closed today (Friday) due to the floods.

    11.32am:

    We've heard Silco Drive, off Grenfell Road, is also flooded.

    11.29am:

    11.28am:

    Not good news for the Kindness Shop.

    10.53am:

    There are still problems on the M4.

    10.22am:

    Take care if you are heading along the M40.

    10.09am:

    This is the situation at the Nicholsons Centre:

    9.54am:

    At least Wilko is well stocked in mops (photo by Mark Spencer-Smith)

    9.50am:

    The last 24 hours have been the second wettest on local record since 1942.

    A total of 72.2mm of rainfall fell in Maidenhead between 10am on Thursday and 8.25am today.

    Since 1942, only one day has seen more rainfall, when Hurley recorded 75.2mm fall in August 1969.

    Dr Roger Brugge, a local meteorologist who provided the data, said the warm continental air that provided one of the hottest September days this week was meeting ‘shallow air’ of low pressure and creating thunderstorms.

    He added that when the two air types met, there was an 8*C drop in 30 minutes during the evening.

    9.49am:

    A lot of people hard at work clearing up.

    9.46am:

    Some pictures from our chief photographer Matthew Phillips:

    9.42am:

    It is not just Maidenhead that is affected. This is Bourne End heading towards Cookham Bridge.

    9.41am:

    Tesco Metro and Wilko's both remain closed at the moment.

    9.40am:

    9.38am:

    Bad news Bear.

    9.37am:

    Not looking good on the motorway...

    9.32am:

    Some updates from our readers:

    9.27am:

    Some photos by our editor Martin Trepte. It's a mess out there.

    9.25am:

    We've heard Wilko's, WHSmith and Tesco have all experienced flooding this morning.

    9.22am: 

    Looks like it might be wise to avoid the Nicholsons car park.

    9.11am:

    No home fixture for Maidenhead United this weekend, which is probably for the best.

    9.08am: 

    It's a big day if you're a traffic cone.

    9.04am: 

    Update from the council, complete with a clever GIF.

    8.57am:

    We understand the fire service was called out to quite a few incidents last night. More online soon.

    8.56am:

    8.48am:

    Meanwhile, at 'Tiser Towers...

    8.46am:

    Maidenhead, it's not in Kent.

    8.39am:

    Just a reminder that a number of road closures are still in place after last night's storms.

    8.35am:

    8.29am:

    8.27am:

    This was the scene this morning.

    8.24am:

    8.21am:

    The westbound entry slip at junction 8  of the M4 is closed due to the flooding. Highways England says disruption is expected to continue until 10.45am-11am.

    8.16am:

    The heavy rain has also caused delays and cancellations to some railway services. More details are available here.

    8.06am:

    The West Street underpass and St Mary's Walk are also closed and bus services are affected.

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    • Pursuer

      11:53, 16 September 2016

      Yes rain does fall heavily at times- hence the nonsense of Borough operatives regularly blowing leaves,refuse and other detritus into the gutters awaiting sweeping by road cleaning vehicles, which may or may not come along. Significant amounts of, largely, straw litter on the A4 in particular West of Maidenhead, and its side roads are still blocking and/or restricting gutter drains. The straw is deposited in substantial amounts every year from farmers uncovered bales of straw hauled along public roads by their trailers, and whilst some is subsequently swept up, at ratepayers expense no doubt, significant amounts remain. Thus hardly surprising the flooding occurs.

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