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| Winds and rain battering Britain | Winds and rain battering Britain |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Heavy rainfall and strong winds are sweeping across Britain causing floods in many areas. | Heavy rainfall and strong winds are sweeping across Britain causing floods in many areas. |
| The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Wales and many parts of England. | The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for Wales and many parts of England. |
| Some areas could experience the equivalent of more than two weeks of rainfall in 24 hours. | Some areas could experience the equivalent of more than two weeks of rainfall in 24 hours. |
| The Environment Agency says there are 34 flood warnings currently in force in south and west Wales and the south-west of England, two of them severe. | The Environment Agency says there are 34 flood warnings currently in force in south and west Wales and the south-west of England, two of them severe. |
| The severe warnings are in Wales, for the River Rhymney at New Tredegar, Caerphilly, Bedwas and Machen, and for the River Taff at Troedyrhiw, Aberfan and Quakers Yard. | The severe warnings are in Wales, for the River Rhymney at New Tredegar, Caerphilly, Bedwas and Machen, and for the River Taff at Troedyrhiw, Aberfan and Quakers Yard. |
| And flood warnings have been issued for the west of England on the River Wye, and including Hereford, Hay on Wye, and Ross on Wye. | And flood warnings have been issued for the west of England on the River Wye, and including Hereford, Hay on Wye, and Ross on Wye. |
| Drivers have faced dangerous conditions in parts of the UK | Drivers have faced dangerous conditions in parts of the UK |
| There are 94 flood watches in England and Wales and one in Scotland. | There are 94 flood watches in England and Wales and one in Scotland. |
| Chris Mills, of the Environment Agency, said people based in areas where there are flood warnings "need to make sure that they are looking after their property, that they are alert [and] that they are ready to leave their property if necessary". | Chris Mills, of the Environment Agency, said people based in areas where there are flood warnings "need to make sure that they are looking after their property, that they are alert [and] that they are ready to leave their property if necessary". |
| "Don't go anywhere near the water, don't try to cross the water in a vehicle, even by a 4x4, and remain alert,'' he said. | "Don't go anywhere near the water, don't try to cross the water in a vehicle, even by a 4x4, and remain alert,'' he said. |
| BBC forecasters said 40mm of rain had fallen in Caerphilly in south Wales and on Exmoor. | BBC forecasters said 40mm of rain had fallen in Caerphilly in south Wales and on Exmoor. |
| And forecasters are warning of a very heavy period of rain continuing for up to 24 hours, affecting northern England, south-eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland. | And forecasters are warning of a very heavy period of rain continuing for up to 24 hours, affecting northern England, south-eastern Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| The heavy rain will continue through the night and well into Saturday in these areas. | The heavy rain will continue through the night and well into Saturday in these areas. |
| The weather has caused disruption across much of Wales and England: | The weather has caused disruption across much of Wales and England: |
| • A major incident has been declared in Bridgend due to rising water levels in the River Ogmore. The council is evacuating staff from its civic offices and businesses are being advised about the risk of flooding | • A major incident has been declared in Bridgend due to rising water levels in the River Ogmore. The council is evacuating staff from its civic offices and businesses are being advised about the risk of flooding |
| • The Jazz in the Park event in Pontypool has been cancelled, as was Cardiff Pride 2008 | |
| • A number of roads are under water in Gloucestershire and a road in Crumlin in Monmouthshire was closed following a landslide | • A number of roads are under water in Gloucestershire and a road in Crumlin in Monmouthshire was closed following a landslide |
| • Gusts of more than 60mph have been recorded at headlands near Torbay in Devon | • Gusts of more than 60mph have been recorded at headlands near Torbay in Devon |
| • Arriva Trains is advising people in south east Wales not to travel by train as all rail services are severely disrupted by flooding | • Arriva Trains is advising people in south east Wales not to travel by train as all rail services are severely disrupted by flooding |
| South Wales Fire Service said it had received 350 flood-related calls in six hours on Friday, compared with a normal daily total of about 130. | South Wales Fire Service said it had received 350 flood-related calls in six hours on Friday, compared with a normal daily total of about 130. |
| We are expecting 20mm to 40mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours on already saturated ground, which is the biggest problem BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett Floods cause chaos in Wales | We are expecting 20mm to 40mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours on already saturated ground, which is the biggest problem BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett Floods cause chaos in Wales |
| Fire crews and council workers were called to homes in the Lydney area of Gloucestershire on Thursday after flash floods. | Fire crews and council workers were called to homes in the Lydney area of Gloucestershire on Thursday after flash floods. |
| Flooding caused substantial problems throughout that county in July last year. | Flooding caused substantial problems throughout that county in July last year. |
| The ground is saturated after an unusually wet August, increasing the risk of flooding across the UK, experts said. | The ground is saturated after an unusually wet August, increasing the risk of flooding across the UK, experts said. |
| "We are expecting 20mm to 40mm of rainfall in the next 24 hours on already saturated ground, which is the biggest problem. We've had a lot of rain already," said BBC weather forecaster Darren Bett | |
| Flooding is likely to disrupt businesses in the worst affected areas. | |
| Tina Beeston, the publican of the Market Tavern in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, told the BBC her business was flooded last year and there was a serious risk that it would be again. | |
| "There's probably eight premises that are already flooded, so these are businesses that have only just picked themselves back up again. It's looking pretty grim for the businesses in Tenbury Wells," she said. | |
| The AA has reported a higher than normal number of breakdowns with cars getting in trouble after driving through floodwater. | The AA has reported a higher than normal number of breakdowns with cars getting in trouble after driving through floodwater. |
| Commuters have been advised to be careful on the roads and to leave extra time for journeys. | Commuters have been advised to be careful on the roads and to leave extra time for journeys. |
| The public can keep updated through news outlets and by calling the Floodline on 0845 988 1188. | The public can keep updated through news outlets and by calling the Floodline on 0845 988 1188. |
| Have you been caught up in the bad weather? Send us your comments using the form below: | Have you been caught up in the bad weather? Send us your comments using the form below: |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
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