davepickering

Mother launches water safety awareness charity after losing 8-year-old son to drowning

Timely with the warmer weather across the UK this summer, a mother is launching a charity in honour of her son’s life after tragically losing him almost year ago to drowning.

Rebecca Hinde lost her 8-year-old son, Joshua Hillstead, to drowning in River Arrow in Alvechurch, Alcester, on 23 July 2024. Marking the first anniversary since his death, Becky is founding The Joshua Hillstead Foundation charity.

The newly founded charity will be launched on Saturday 26 July at Wythall Park for a memorable day. Filled with fun activities for children, there will also be local food stalls on hand for everyone to enjoy.

Becky’s mission and determination to fight for wider water safety awareness has seen her support national charity, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), with initiatives such as Water Smart Schools, to help share free education with young children.

In June, Becky also went to Westminster, joining RLSS UK to help lobby at Parliament for class-based water safety education to be included across all schools in the National Curricula in England.

Becky Hinde, speaking on the launch of The Joshua Hillstead Foundation, said: “The 22^nd July 2024 was the day my life changed forever. At around 9:30pm, I received a call that ensured life would never be the same again.

“My lovely son Joshua had fallen into the River Arrow and was being taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. His heart had stopped beating, but paramedics had got it beating again. Once at the hospital, he suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage and was having seizures.

“He was put onto a ventilator and the doctors worked tirelessly but unfortunately he stopped responding and we had to make the hardest decision to turn off the machines and let him go. He passed away on 23^rd July at 10:46pm, the day before his ninth birthday.

“As Joshua’s mother, a piece of me died that day too. Every day my heart breaks all over again. I will never get to see my son again, I will never get to kiss or cuddle my child again and I will never get to see him grow into a man. He will never get to grow up, fall in love or feel how wonderful it is to hold your own child. He had so much life ahead of him and I’m so proud to have been his mum.

“He was the most wonderful, kind caring boy with so much love for his family. I see now just how loved he was and how many people are feeling the deep pain of his loss, his sister trying to reconcile with not being able to save him and living without the person she was the closest to, his little brother who tells me all the time that he misses his Joshy, and his friends trying to understand a loss that they should never have to feel at such a young age.

“I couldn’t be there to help save my son as he wasn’t with me at the time of the accident, so now my goal is to help other families and prevent others from feeling the devastation we feel every day.

“In honour of Joshua, my family and I have created The Joshua Hillstead Foundation. Our aim is to help raise awareness and empower children through education on the dangers of natural waterways.

“We want to introduce comprehensive water safety and first aid in schools across the UK in order to prevent any further accidents such as Joshua’s.

Our goal is to help all children to understand undercurrents, tides, ice, cold water shock, whilst also highlighting surrounding dangers such as sand banks, rocks, weeds and sudden drops. We endeavour to give them the knowledge and tools to keep themselves and others safe around water.

“People say to me that they couldn’t imagine what it’s like to lose your child, I hope no-one ever does – it’s a pain that never goes away. It’s complete desperation for so many things we take for granted every day, from a cuddle, to a kiss or even just to smell his scent. It’s being completely lost and not knowing what to do because there’s no words or actions that will ever take this feeling away.

“We strongly feel that water safety should be a part of the National Curriculum as there are too many accidents occurring every year where children are drowning. Even one child drowning is too many. This is so very important and is needed to ensure that no other parent has to feel the way I feel.

“We need to educate our children to help keep them safe. We can’t be there for them 24/7 but we can definitely give them the skills and knowledge to keep them safe.”

Edinburgh’s royal community garden celebrates five years and hundreds of educational visits

A public garden at the end of the Royal Mile is celebrating its fifth anniversary, having welcomed thousands of visitors and engaged hundreds of local children and adults in events and workshops since it opened in 2020.

The Physic Garden at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, located just outside the monarch’s official residence in Scotland, is a free-to-visit garden that can be enjoyed year-round by the people of Edinburgh and visitors to the Palace. Its fifth anniversary will be marked by an episode of the longstanding BBC Scotland gardening programme Beechgrove Garden, airing this week.

The Physic Garden is located beside the Palace’s Abbey Strand Learning Centre, and over the past five years, more than 360 pupils from schools both local and further afield have taken part in educational sessions, with children learning how plants were used historically as remedies to improve health and wellbeing.

A further 400 ethnobotany students, members of community gardens and nature-lovers of all ages have taken part in guided visits and events, reviving the garden’s centuries-old original purpose of teaching the medicinal properties of plants.

The Physic Garden was opened in 2020 to recreate some of the earliest recorded gardens in the Palace grounds, with three distinct sections each representing different periods in the Palace’s 900-year history.

Raised beds of herbs, flowers, and other useful plants reimagine the physic garden that was established in the Palace grounds 350 years ago by the doctors Sir Robert Sibbald and Sir Andrew Balfour, two founding members of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Created in 1670 to teach students about the medicinal properties of plants and to provide pharmacists with fresh medicinal ingredients, the Palace’s original physic garden was the first of its kind in Scotland and the forerunner to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

The new physic garden contains medicinal and culinary plants that would have grown in the 17th-century garden, including fennel – once used to aid eyesight and as an antidote to poisonous mushrooms – and lavender, bergamot and lemon balm, used for scents, dyes and insecticides.

A flowering meadow of medicinal plants including daisies, previously used for coughs, and mallows, an old treatment for scurvy, evokes the 15th-century monastic gardens of Holyrood Abbey, once one of the grandest medieval abbeys in Scotland, the ruins of which can still be seen today on a visit to the Palace.

The third area delights in late winter and spring with crocuses and tulips planted in geometric patterns, typical of 17th-century gardens. With such a variety of plants and styles, the garden has year-round appeal for locals and visitors curious to learn about local history and historic natural remedies.

Abbey Strand gardens Palace of Holyroodhouse Edinburgh.Photograph David Cheskin.

Chris Walker, Learning Manager, Royal Collection Trust, said: ‘The Physic Garden is an oasis at the end of the Royal Mile, providing a welcoming green space in the city centre where locals and visitors alike can get outside, enjoy nature and learn some fascinating local history.

‘We are delighted that almost 800 people have taken part in exciting activities where nature, science and history meet, in addition to the countless others who enjoy this free community garden every day. Like our forebears 350 years ago, we understand the benefits of spending time in nature for our physical and mental wellbeing, and we hope the garden can be enjoyed for many more years to come.’

Tying in with the anniversary, BBC Scotland’s Beechgrove Garden paid a visit to the Physic Garden, with its presenter and gardener George Anderson retracing the garden’s history alongside Emma Stead, Curator at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Johanna Lausen-Higgins, Garden History Lecturer at the Education department of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

In the episode, which will air on BBC Scotland and BBC Two from Thursday, 17 July onwards (Monday 21 July, 14:00 on BBC Scotland, Thursday 24 July, 06:45 on BBC Two) , Anderson discovers the historic uses of the medicinal and culinary plants still growing in the garden today, including Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum), used in the past to repel ticks and lice in bedchambers.

He also views a rare copy of the Hortus Medicus Edinburgensis from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s archives – a catalogue of the 3,000 plants growing in the Physic Garden in the 1680s.

Physic garden Abbey Strand building Holyroodhouse,Edinburgh.Photograph David Cheskin.29.09.2020.

Royal Collection Trust will offer a programme of events and school sessions in the Physic Garden celebrate the anniversary:

Flower Arranging Workshop

24 July 2025, 09:30–12:00

After a tour of the garden’s flowers, florist and Royal Warrant holder Lottie Longman will show participants how to harvest foliage from the wildflower meadow to create a bouquet to take home.

Floral Wreaths Workshop

3 September 2025, 09:30–12:00

After a tour of the Physic Garden, Lottie Longman will teach participants how to create beautiful wreaths of freshly picked flowers, which can be dried naturally at home.

Plants, Painting and Potions Schools Session

Available for schools to book in termtime, 1 hour

In this outdoor learning session, pupils will learn how the canons of Holyrood Abbey lived 900 years ago, growing flowers, herbs and vegetables to eat and concoct natural remedies. Children will learn how to use quills and gather flowers, leaves and twigs to make and record their own remedy.

Holyrood’s Herbal Hospital Schools Session

Available for schools to book in termtime, 2 hours

School groups will learn how Holyrood Abbey’s medieval canons grew medicinal plants to help and heal their local community, before hearing the story of the two 17th-century Scottish doctors who created the Physic Garden and making their own traditional remedy. The visit includes access to the Physic Garden, the Palace of Holyroodhouse Gardens, Holyrood Abbey, and the Abbey Strand Learning Centre.

Learning Resources

Free learning resources including worksheets and scavenger hunt trails are available to download for all schools and visitors to the garden.

Environmental Standards Scotland asks residents in Edinburgh for their views on new five-year Strategy

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) has launched a public consultation on a draft of its new Strategy that will set the direction of work for the organisation for the next five years.

The consultation will give organisations and members of the public in Edinburgh with an interest in ESS’ role the opportunity to provide their views and help shape the final Strategy, which will be submitted to Parliament later this year.

The draft Strategy sets out a clear framework for how ESS will ensure public bodies in Scotland are complying with environmental law, as well as how ESS will scrutinise the effectiveness of environmental law in Scotland, and how it is implemented and applied.

The document includes an updated vision and new strategic objectives for the organisation, and sets out a fresh approach to prioritisation within its work. The consultation will also seek feedback on ESS’ proposed response to a recommendation made to ESS by Scottish Ministers following the Scottish Government’s review of environmental governance.

Mark Roberts, Chief Executive of ESS, said: ‘This consultation will enable us to refine our final Strategy which will be submitted to the Scottish Parliament for approval later this year.

‘Environmental law directly and indirectly impacts every resident, business and community in Edinburgh so we’re keen to hear from as wide a range of people and groups as possible. I would encourage anyone with an interest in our work to take part.’

ESS was established in October 2021 to ensure environmental laws and standards are adhered to in Scotland, replacing the European Union’s scrutiny and enforcement role after Brexit.

ESS’ first Strategy covered the period from 2022-2025. During this time, ESS has investigated compliance with a wide range of environmental law on issues including the management of special protection areas for birds, air quality and wrasse fishing. The organisation has also examined the effectiveness of environmental law in areas such as storm overflows, marine litter and soils.

ESS’ full draft Strategy can be viewed here

Consultation closing date: 29 August 2025

Access the ESS consultation here

RNIB’s Cafe VI officially open

Café VI, Edinburgh’s newest community café, is officially open!

Whether you want a quiet place to relax or a catch-up with others, we’ve got something for everyone, plus we have fresh sandwiches, homemade cakes and all sorts of other tasty treats.

Our space has been designed with accessibility and community at its heart, and everyone is welcome. Plus, you’ll be supporting people with sight loss!

If you’d like to visit, the address is 12–14 Hillside Crescent, Edinburgh, EH7 5EA, and we’re open from Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm.

We’d love you to join us – pop by and say hello!

Return of Free Music Festival in the heart of Edinburgh

The Brand New Heavies, Bemz, Tamzene, and Cortney Dixon lead the line-up for St James Quarter Sessions

St James Quarter Sessions is back for its third year (15^th to 24^th August ’25) with a packed line up of heavy hitters and up and coming talent taking over the East End of the city.

Happening during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe at the city’s leading retail and lifestyle destination, St James Quarter, this year’s festival programme sees over 60 acts performing across the impressive, canopied development, including the Level 6 rooftop, with panoramic views of Scotland’s capital and castle – providing one of the most unique festival stages in the UK.

Hot on the heels of the band’s well-received 30^th anniversary tour, 90s icons The Brand New Heavies, will be bringing iconic acid-jazz hits such as “You Are The Universe” and “Midnight At The Oasis” to Edinburgh. Fans can expect a stacked set of classic tunes, heavy bass lines and hypnotic rhythms from one of the band’s that helped to establish acid-jazz in popular culture in the 90s.

Coming off the back of rave reviews from this year’s UK festival scene, Winner of the Scottish Music Awards’ ‘Sound of Scotland’ award and previously BBC Introducing’s ‘Scottish Act of the Year’, Glasgow rapper Bemz will be kicking off this year’s main event with a banging Friday night performance on the Level 6 Castle View stage. Having toured with the likes of The Snuts, Bemz has been building a reputation as a leading light in Scotland’s hip-hop scene.

Fresh from making her Glastonbury debut this year, Cortney Dixon is poised to set the rooftop on fire with a riotous set of indie-pop anthems. Expect fuzz laden guitars and a raucous performance from the North East’s latest hot property on the music scene.

Grassroots music champions Wide Days will be taking over the Castle View stage with their ‘New From Scotland’ series, showcasing Scotland’s hottest new talent. Festival-goers can enjoy the industry’s top picks of future Scottish stars on Friday 22^ndbefore they reach the masses.

Slated for the Level 3 Yellow Stage and hailing from the small Scottish town of Cromarty, critically acclaimed Highlands singer songwriter, Tamzene will be bringing her unique sound to Sessions. Riding the waves of a career that’s pacing towards stardom, Tamzene will deliver an intimate set of R&B‑tinged pop ballads set to mesmerise festival goers with candid lyricism and haunting melodies that draw on a nuanced mix of Irish, Jamaican and Highland roots.

Nigerian-born and Edinburgh-raised, James Emmanuel will also be bringing his soulful sounds to the Yellow Stage on Level 3 of the Galleria. Raised as the son of a preacher, he first found his voice in gospel choirs, a grounding that shaped his soulful sound from the beginning. Now backed by BBC Introducing, James draws inspiration from legends like Marvin Gaye and Bobby “Blue” Bland, James brings a timeless quality to stories that feel deeply personal and human.

On the back of their very first headline tour after releasing their debut album in 2024, Scottish duo The Laurettes will be bringing their unique take on Celtic-folk to the Sessions stage, supported by their all-female band.

Elsewhere on the bill will be Dara Dubh, Beth Miller, Ant Thomaz, Indoor Foxes, Dictator, Justine Beverley and more home‑grown talent taking over stages throughout St James Quarter.

Festival-goers can sign up for free tickets, set times and stage information by downloading the St James Quarter App, which allows everyone to stay updated with events happening throughout the destination for Sessions and beyond.

Susan Hewlett, Festival Creator at St James Quarter, said: “At a time when festival ticket prices have never been higher and independent venues are closing across the country, we’re not only putting on this incredible line-up for free, but also giving existing and emerging artists the platform to continue being heard and discovered.

“We’ve even got clean toilets, no mud, and food and drink venues on tap – what more could you ask from a free music festival in one of the best cities in the UK.”

The warm-up to this year’s St James Quarter Sessions will champion Edinburgh’s rich grassroots music scene by offering the next generation of Scottish stars a series of pop-up busking performances appearing throughout the destination.

Running throughout August, musicians can apply for a paid performance slot with applications via www.stjamesquarter.com

St James Quarter has continued to back grassroots musicians this year, partnering with Forth 1’s Boogie In The Morning for a talent search that will let one winner bag a rooftop stage performance slot, a cash prize of £1000 and recording time at W Edinburgh’s in-house studio, with four runners‑up being offered sets on the festival’s Yellow Stage.

PEKKU at North Edinburgh Arts

SATURDAY 26th JULY at 12 NOON

Shh… What’s that noise? A squeak? A squeal? A bird? It’s getting louder. Oh dear… Pekku takes a playful look at what happens when you want to be left alone and others have a different idea.

Ahead of a run at the Festival Fringe Festival, Red Bridge Arts are delighted to share a preview of their newest show PEKKU, with North Edinburgh Arts audiences. It’s a new show for 3-6 year olds (and their adults) by Andy Manley, Ian Cameron & Shona Reppe.

Co-commissioned by Red Bridge Arts, ROHM Theatre and Ricca Ricca Festival, and Produced by Red Bridge Arts.

We hope you can join this sharing for families!

Saturday, 26 July, 12(noon)

NEA, MacMillan Hub, 12c MacMillan Square EH4 4AB

FREE but booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1501066292689

ORGREAVE: ANSWERS AT LAST?

Campaigners welcome government announcement to hold an Orgreave Inquiry

Since setting up in 2012 the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign (OTJC) have worked relentlessly to place on the political agenda the urgent need for an inquiry into the role of the police and government during the miners’ strike at the Orgreave coking plant on 18th June 1984 and why neither the police or government have ever been held to account.

An inquiry should give clear answers to:

– who was responsible for organising and ordering the deployment of multiple police forces, including mounted police armed with truncheons, shields and dogs, against striking miners?

– who and how was it decided that striking miners should be attacked and arrested at Orgreave and charged with riot and unlawful assembly, which carried heavy prison sentences?

– why has the police operational order for police deployments that day disappeared and other evidence been destroyed or embargoed until 2066 and 2071?

The revelations about the role of South Yorkshire Police (SYP) in the Hillsborough tragedy after the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel in September 2012, the Inside Out television programme of October 2012 highlighting fabricated evidence by SYP against miners charged at Orgreave and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report of May 2015 indicating the need for a wider inquiry into policing at Orgreave, gave further impetus for why the OTJC rightly believed that the case for an inquiry was absolutely necessary.

The Conservative Government repeatedly refused to hold any kind of Orgreave inquiry.

Labour Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper has recently been exploring the key issues for an inquiry / investigation such as the scope and format to ensure it best meets the needs outlined by various stakeholders including the OTJC, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), lawyers and politicians.

We are pleased that the Home Secretary has now ordered that an independent inquiry with statutory powers will finally go ahead and we look forward to meeting with the Chair of that inquiry to discuss the draft terms of reference of the inquiry.

OTJC Secretary, Kate Flannery, said: “We have waited a long time for this day and this is really positive news. All these years of hard work by the OTJC and our many supporters has helped to influence this constructive announcement.

“We appreciate the Labour Party’s 9 year commitment to holding some kind of Orgreave inquiry. We now need to be satisfied that the inquiry is given the necessary powers to fully investigate all the aspects of the orchestrated policing at Orgreave, and have unrestricted access to all relevant information including government, police and media documents, photos and films”

Kevin Horne, miner arrested at Orgreave said: ““It is now over 41 years since a paramilitary style police operation was planned at Orgreave and it is important to remember that some of the miners attacked and arrested there are now dead and many others are old and ill.

“We need a quick and thorough inquiry with a tight timescale so that surviving miners can at last obtain the truth and justice they have been waiting for. Plenty of information exists and has already been obtained to give an inquiry a substantial head start”

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said: ““I pay tribute to the campaigners who never stopped in their search for truth and justice, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as we build an inquiry that gets the answers they and their communities deserve.”

ORGREAVE_Leaflet_2022 Download

Orgreave Justice campaigners say the The inquiry should:

have the power to require all the relevant information and evidence to be produced to it;
ensure those who have an interest in the inquiry must be able to fully participate in order to lend their experience, knowledge and understanding to the process;
be accessible and inclusive to allow people to provide oral contributions to the evidence gathering process.

This is an historic and momentous announcement, and the OTJC looks forward to the next stages and the inquiry commencing as soon as possible.

Leonardo Incident: Three women charged under the Terrorism Act 2000

Three women have been charged under the Terrorism Act 2000 after a van was driven into an external fence of a business premises in Edinburgh.

The incident happened during a disturbance in the Crewe Road North area of the city on Tuesday, 15 July, 2025.

The three women – aged 31, 34 and 42 – who were earlier arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 have been charged and are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow – Monday, 21 July, 2025.

Police Scotland’s Counter Terrorism Unit are leading the investigation and enquiries are ongoing.

As part of the investigation, officers are appealing for information to trace the movements of a blue Ford Transit van in the Gorgie Road area on Monday, 14 July, 2025 and prior to the incident on Tuesday, 15 July, 2025.

They are also keen to trace the movements of a white Honda CR-Z on these dates. It was recovered from a carpark in Gorgie Road following the incident.

Anyone who saw either vehicle in the area, or has any information, is asked to contact police.

If anyone was in the Crewe Road North or Gorgie Road areas and has any relevant dashcam footage or saw anything suspicious, please contact police on 101 quoting reference 0416 of 15 July.

New venue to open at Bristo Square ahead of Edinburgh Fringe

A new venue to support the performing arts has been announced for Edinburgh’s Bristo Square, with The Gilded Saloon bar & kitchen set to open on 30th July 2025, alongside a 200 capacity club and venue in the basement.

A new venture from comedy operators Gilded Balloon, Scots musical and arts festival Kelburn Garden Party and creative community pub Paradise Palms, the bar and venue will open its doors in time for Edinburgh Fringe.

Located on 45-47 Lothian Street overlooking Bristo Square and right next to city favourite Paradise Palms, the new venue will launch a vibrant programme of music, performance, comedy and events, operating 7 days a week.

The three businesses have teamed up to create a joint venture with the new space, which will aim to support the creative and performing arts community from across Scotland with gigs, club nights, music performances, comedy shows, pub theatre, spoken word and more, right in the heart of Edinburgh.

The Gilded Saloon will serve up a broad selection of draught beers, wines and spirits alongside hearty modern pub grub and a Fringe pop-up, ‘Coop’, during August by local chef Tomas Gormley (known for his restaurants Skua and Cardinal).

Due to open July 2025, the Gilded Saloon will also act as a hub for Edinburgh Fringe performers during August and a supportive artist space year round, providing discounted food and drinks to the creative sector as well as rehearsal, workshop and collaborative space to established and grassroots artists and promoters.

The basement club will unveil its own programme in the coming weeks …

Gilded Balloon is a family run enterprise and one of Scotland’s leading entertainment producers, presenting shows across the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as well as tours year-round throughout the UK.

This year they will celebrate 40 years at the Fringe with a programme featuring some of comedy’s most iconic names including Rosie O’Donnell, Smack the Pony and Alan Davies. Run by Co-Directors Karen and Katy Koren, Gilded Balloon will run comedy, theatre, sketch and non-music programming at The Gilded Saloon which is named after the venue they lost during the infamous Cowgate fire over 20 years ago in 2002.

Kelburn Garden Party is Scotland’s best loved independent music and arts festival, which has just celebrated their 15th edition at Kelburn Castle on the West Coast with a sell out attendance..

Welcoming over 5000 fans each year, the festival showcases the best in Scottish and international talent from music to contemporary art. The team behind the festival will programme oversee much of the club bookings plus mobilise their team of festival supporters and artists to collaborate and help curate this new year round creative space.

Paradise Palms was always set up to be a community centre as much as it is a bar. The folks behind it are from Edinburgh but between them have opened venues in London, Ibiza, Sydney, Auckland, Nashville & L.A. so they know what it takes to make something tick and how important community is.

Always championing the grassroots and marginalised the venue also runs its own record label – Paradise Palms Records, which it uses as a platform to promote the music it loves and artists from Scotland and overseas. They will assist in general programming and oversee the operation of the new venue.

Tomás Gormley is a local award-winning chef and restaurateur. After earning a Michelin star at his first restaurant, Heron, in 2023, he went on to open Skua, a Michelin Bib Gourmand small plates spot, and Cardinal, an intimate fine dining restaurant in Stockbridge.

This August, he brings back his cult fried chicken pop-up, COOP, serving fried chicken and smoked lobster rolls across multiple Fringe locations.

The full year-round programme of events specifically curated by Paradise Palms, Kelburn Arts and Gilded Balloon will be launched from September but in the meantime, visit the Gilded Saloon from the 30th July and throughout the Fringe.

Expert tips for driving through flooded roads

With warnings in place for heavy rain, motorists are being advised on how to navigate flooded roads safely.

Motoring experts at LeaseLoco.com have shared their top tips for drivers who find themselves with no choice but to tackle waterlogged routes.

Flooded roads not only pose a serious risk of vehicle damage but can also lead to lengthy standstills and an increased likelihood of accidents.

So motorists have been advised to drive steadily, remain considerate of other road users, and use consistent engine revs to reduce the risk of water damage.

Using a low gear is particularly important, as it helps prevent costly repairs and avoids unnecessary breakdowns that can cause further disruption.

Drivers are also being urged to stay calm and focus on safety by using headlights and maintaining clear visibility.

Patience is key when navigating flooded roads – motorists should take turns, drive through the highest points of the road, and avoid rushing, as panic can lead to accidents.

John Wilmot, CEO and founder of car leasing deals site LeaseLoco said: “Driving through flooded roads should be avoided whenever possible, both for personal safety and to prevent costly damage to your vehicle.

“However, drivers will inevitably encounter waterlogged roads from time to time, so knowing the safest ways to navigate them is essential.

“Water damage to vehicles can be expensive, but maintaining consistent revs while driving through floodwater can help prevent water from entering the engine.

“It’s also important to stay inside your vehicle in flooded areas, as floodwater often contains contaminants from drainage systems that pose serious health risks.

“In wet conditions, vehicles are at risk of losing traction and control – something known as aquaplaning. If this happens, ease off the accelerator gently, keep the steering wheel straight, and avoid braking harshly, as this can worsen the situation.

“By staying calm, driving slowly, and taking proactive precautions, you can protect yourself, your passengers, and your vehicle.”

LeaseLoco’s tips and advice for driving through flooded roads:

Avoid where possible

Driving in floods should be avoided whenever possible, as water deeper than 4 inches can pose significant risks to both passengers and pedestrians. Floodwater may be deeper and faster moving than it appears, so plan your journey carefully and reroute if needed.

Drive slow

It’s crucial to drive cautiously and at reduced speeds in flooded areas, as driving too fast can force water into your vehicle and cause serious damage. Additionally, splashing pedestrians by driving through puddles at speed is against the law.

Drive through the centre

Roads are engineered to dip at the sides, allowing water to run off into drainage systems, so driving through the centre of a flooded road will ensure you’re not driving through more water than necessary.

One at a time

Take time and be patient when roads are flooded. Drive cautiously to allow cars to drive through the middle of the road one at a time. For people with larger, more robust cars, be mindful and cautious of other vehicles that might not be as sturdy.

Low gear

Driving in a lower gear and maintaining steady revs can help prevent water from entering the exhaust. If water does enter the exhaust, it can cause hydrolock, potentially resulting in severe engine damage.

Use headlights

Visibility is important when roads are flooded, especially in the evenings, as other drivers might not notice reduced speeds or delays caused by cautiously navigating through the centre of floodwater.

Air conditioning

Prevent your car from misting in floods so that your vision is clear for any potential hazards. Keep air flowing by turning the air conditioning on.

Remain inside the car

Flood water is usually caused from systems overflowing, so the water could be grossly contaminated. Stay inside your car, even if you’re waiting for help. Water may also appear to be more shallow than it really is, which can increase danger to individuals who aren’t confident in water.

Motorists can sign up for flood warnings on the GOV.uk website.