A pumping system that is used to help clear surface water at an underpass on the A41 is running at a reduced capacity, a council has said.

Recent heavy rainfall has left the underpass - which runs under the roundabout where the A405 and A41 meet - flooded twice this month as it became victim to large amounts of standing water.

Video footage shows drivers having to carefully navigate their way through standing water on the underpass near Leavesden on Wednesday, August 12, with the road resembling more of a lake than a dual carriageway.

Video: @WatfordLondon

And just days later on Monday, August 17, Hertfordshire County Council closed the road temporarily to motorists heading westbound because of further flash flooding.

Heavy rainfall on June 18 also saw the road closed during the morning to motorists.

The council said that flooding can occur when the volume of rainfall is greater than the capacity of the localised drainage system, although explained that maintenance work is currently being carried out to the pumping system on the A41 that helps clear water at the underpass.

Kevin Carrol, Ringway Divisional Manager, working on behalf of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “The torrential rain experienced on Monday afternoon was exceptional, not only in Leavesden but in many parts of the county.

“This caused flash flooding due to a high intensity rainfall over a short period and on the A41 at Leavesden this overwhelmed the surface water pumping system for a short period yesterday afternoon.

“The pumping system that supports the surface water drainage here is currently operating at a reduced capacity due to undergoing maintenance work.”

The council said that the maintenance work is set to be completed by the end of the month.