The accident and emergency department of the Royal Berkshire Hospital has been closed after a major incident was declared following flooding and a fire yesterday.

The British Red Cross were on site this morning, handing out food and drink to patients and staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Only patients with critical injuries were being accepted at the Craven Road hospital.

All other patients were being taken to other A and E departments including Slough's Wexham Park Hosptial.

Patients were being moved from Battle Block at the hospital because power could not be restored with certainty.

It was understood that medical staff worked through the night wearing miners lamps.

At 4.30 am yesterday (July 30), the basement was flooded after an underground leak and firefighters spent four hours pumping water away from the hospital.

A small electrical fire then broke out in the afternoon in an electrical cupboard. Despite staff trying to keep patients comfortable in the Battle Ward area of the hospital, today management has decided to evacuate parts of the hospital and close its busy A and E department.

On an average day the deparment sees around 300 people.

Catherine Morrow, a spokesperson for the South Central Ambulance Service, told the Observer's sister paper - Reading Chronicle - that ambulances would continue to take patients in a life threatening condition to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

She said: "South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is working in collaboration with Royal Berkshire Hospital to ensure that patients continue to receive the most appropriate care for their clinical need.

"We are still conveying all patients in life threatening conditions to Royal Berkshire Hospital but all other patients will be conveyed to alternative local emergency departments."