Abingdon Tesco Extra store remains closed today after its car park flooded.

The store off Marcham Road is one of the supermarket chain's biggest in the country.

More than a month's worth of rain hit Oxfordshire in 24 hours on Sunday and Monday, and the River Ock burst its banks, leaving the car park flooded.

READ MORE: County hit by a month's rainfall

The Tesco petrol station is also closed. 

A spokesman for Tesco said: "Our Abingdon Extra store is temporarily closed due to flooding in our car park caused by heavy rainfall. We are sorry for the inconvenience and we hope to reopen shortly."

It is understood that the store could reopen at 6am tomorrow (Thursday, September 26). 

Yesterday afternoon managers watched as the car park started to flood at about 4pm, and by 5.30pm more than three quarters of the spaces were under water.

The store shut after 6pm and remains closed today (Wednesday, September 25). 

(Image: Craig Cantwell) The store was forced to close for a short time in January, and for a short time the previous April, due to the car park getting waterlogged.

Click and collect services have been affected on previous occasions, with duckboards used so that staff and customers could get into the store.

Some residents have previously questioned why the store was built on a flood plain.

Tesco to date has not commented on whether it is considering paying for any flood alleviation measures.

READ MORE: Buses trial new diversion route off Botley Road 

Abingdon county councillor Neil Fawcett said last night on Facebook a flood warning was now in place for the River Ock through Abingdon.

The flood warning area features properties closest to the River Ock from Tesco to St Helen's Wharf, including parts of Orpwood Way, Nash Drive, Chaunterell Way, Ock Mill Close, Meadowside, Manor Court, Mill Paddock and St Helen's Mill. Chaunterell Way is already badly flooded.

Abingdon does not have an up-to-date flood plan.

After some homes' garages in the town were flooded in January, including those in Chaunterell Way, the Environment Agency confirmed that temporary flood barriers were no longer stored in the town - but claimed they were never solely designated for use in Abingdon.

(Image: Craig Cantwell) An Environment Agency spokesman said at the time: "Recent storms led to high river levels in the Thames Valley, and our thoughts are with all those affected.

"Our temporary flood barriers and pumps at South Hinksey, Vicarage Lane and Osney Island in Oxford have protected dozens of properties during Storm Henk.

“The Environment Agency remains committed to supporting the people of Abingdon.

"We held an event last year to pass on practical advice, and remain available to provide support.

"Our teams help reduce flood-risk by cutting grass and weeds, and removing debris from rivers and streams.

“Waterlogged ground in the Ock flood plain at Abingdon and little time to react to the fast-responding river create practical and safety risks with the use of temporary flood barriers here.

"We have withdrawn our temporary flood barrier plan for Abingdon as a result of these risks."

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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