Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

Image source, Kate Bradbrook/BBC

Saphire Blurton, 32, and Lee Mills, 53, moved into a boat on the River Nene in Northampton on Monday and never expected the next morning they’d be rescued by the fire service.

When they awoke they had no idea the water levels were rising until firefighters knocked on their boat door.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener,” Mr Mills said.

“It was nice being rescued by the fire brigade… a bit ironic being rescued from a boat to a boat but it was OK, they were really good people.

“They were really on it because a few boats have sunk down here this morning already and that’s not nice.

“Our boat at the minute is OK.”

Ms Blurton added the fire service had done an “outstanding job”.

“I was a little bit panicky although I didn’t let it on,” she said.

“Once I was in the raft I was alright after that.

“When I’ve walked up and down here in the past, I’ve never seen it as flooded as this. I’m not used to it at all.”