A flood alert has been issued for the River Stort in the Bishop’s Stortford area after almost an inch of rain fell in the last 24 hours.

The alert – which means flooding is possible, but is less serious than a flood warning, which means flooding is expected – covers the Stort, Stansted Brook and their tributaries from Clavering to Hoddesdon, including Stansted Mountfitchet, Stortford, Sawbridgeworth and Harlow.

Thorley Park weatherman Andy White told the Indie on Friday at midday that 23mm – almost an inch – of rain had fallen in the last 24 hours. “But more importantly we have an accumulation of rainfall since midnight Tuesday of 40mm (1.575in),” he said.

The River Stort in Stortford has burst its banks at the Station Road bridge, where water is covering the towpath, a

nd is threatening to do the same between Sworder’s Field and Grange Paddocks.

Saturday’s Castle Park parkrun has been called off. And the gym and swimming pool at Manor of Groves Hotel at High Wych is closed because of flooding in the gym area. A sign at the entrance reads: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are shut until further notice. Apologies for the inconvenience.”

The Environment Agency (EA) says river levels are high on the Stort, Stansted Brook and Pishiobury Brook at Sawbridgeworth.

As of 12.15pm on Friday (Feb 9), the Stort at Grange Paddocks was 0.70m high – well below the 1.15m top of its normal range – but rising.

Upstream at Clavering, it was above the 1.3m top of the normal range at 1.39m and rising – up from 1.15m at 8am. At Sawbridgeworth at 10.30am, it was 1.71m and falling at 10.30am; its normal range top is 1.63m.

Although no property flooding is expected, the EA says low-lying land will be affected, particularly around Lawrence Moorings (Sheering Mill Lane), Italstyle Industrial Estate, Highlands Farm and The Old Cottage.

Further rainfall is forecast throughout Friday (February 9) and river levels are forecast to remain high.

People are warned to avoid using low-lying footpaths and any bridges near watercourses and not to attempt to walk or drive through flood water.