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Flash flooding affects South West Flash floods hit homes and roads
(about 1 hour later)
Extensive flash flooding has hit the south-west of England overnight, according to the emergency services. Extensive flash flooding has hit parts of England, Wales and Scotland, stranding motorists and causing rising water to enter hundreds of homes.
Somerset and Devon were especially badly hit, with up to 18 inches of floodwater in places, said Norman Evans of Devon and Somerset Fire Service. Somerset and Devon were especially badly affected, with the Midlands, Cheshire, Derbyshire and parts of Wales and Scotland also reporting problems.
Train services between London, Bristol and the South West have been disrupted.
The Environment Agency has one severe flood warning in place for the River Lyd in Lydney, Gloucestershire.
Norman Evans, of Devon and Somerset Fire Service, said the service had received hundreds of calls, and crews had been dealing with up to 10 rescues involving flooded homes or vehicles.
Seven people were rescued from their cars in separate incidents when they became stuck in floodwater in Devon.Seven people were rescued from their cars in separate incidents when they became stuck in floodwater in Devon.
And the Environment Agency has one severe flood warning in place for the River Lyd in Lydney, Gloucestershire. Mr Evans said there was up to 18 inches of floodwater in places and urged motorists to travel only if the trip was absolutely necessary.
Mr Evans said the service had received hundreds of calls, and crews had been dealing with up to 10 rescues involving flooded homes or vehicles.
He urged motorists to travel only if the trip was absolutely necessary.
Flood warnings
Road conditions were "atrocious", he said. The worst hit areas were said to be Chard, Ilminster, Shepton Mallet and Street.Road conditions were "atrocious", he said. The worst hit areas were said to be Chard, Ilminster, Shepton Mallet and Street.
Car rescue
In the village of Walton, near Street, residents Jane and Tony Bird said their 11-year-old son, Jack, who had slept on a mattress downstairs with friends, woke up floating.In the village of Walton, near Street, residents Jane and Tony Bird said their 11-year-old son, Jack, who had slept on a mattress downstairs with friends, woke up floating.
And thirty people had to be rescued from cars as parts of Somerset were hit by flash floods. And 30 people had to be rescued from cars as parts of Somerset were hit by floods.
Swansea Coastguard has reported that a helicopter has been deployed to flooded areas in the county.
Flooding scenes across south west England
The Environment Agency has a severe flood warning in place for the River Lyd and a further 34 flood warnings across south-west England with parts of Glastonbury, Yeovil, Shepton Mallet and Chard being the worst hit.The Environment Agency has a severe flood warning in place for the River Lyd and a further 34 flood warnings across south-west England with parts of Glastonbury, Yeovil, Shepton Mallet and Chard being the worst hit.
There is also a warning of severe rain for Wiltshire. Flood warnings are also in place across large areas of Wiltshire and the Midlands.
According to BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes, the heaviest rain over the south-west has now moved away but showers are due to follow. However, these will not be as heavy as the earlier rainfall. According to BBC weather forecaster Chris Fawkes, the heaviest rain over south-west England has now moved away but showers are due to follow. However, these will not be as heavy as the earlier rainfall.
The heaviest rain is now expected over the south-east of England, where the Met Office has issued a weather warning for Surrey and East and West Sussex. By the middle of the afternoon, the heaviest rain is expected over the south-east of England, where the Met Office has issued a weather warning for Surrey and East and West Sussex.
By the middle of the afternoon, the more intense bursts of rain are expected to move into the east of the country.
Stranded sheepStranded sheep
Swansea Coastguard report that a helicopter has been deployed to flooded areas in Somerset. Rail passengers at Reading station said platforms were crowded, after trains bound for south-west England were turned back because of flooding.
And rail passengers at Reading station say platforms are crowded, after trains bound for the south-west were turned back because of flooding. And in Cheshire, fire crews rescued a woman from the roof of her car shortly before 0700 GMT after she became stranded because of floodwater in Crewe.
Meanwhile, scores of sheep at a farm in Scotland are being rescued after being stranded on a hilltop by rising flood waters, the fire service said. Meanwhile, fooding has caused problems for householders in parts of mid and west Wales.
The 100-strong flock are on top of a mound in a field in Mains of Aberdalgie Farm in Perth. They became trapped when the nearby River Earn burst its banks. Firefighters pumped out properties in Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire after heavy rain overnight.
Most calls were in Fishguard, and others in Newcastle Emlyn, Llanelli, Haverfordwest and Pontardawe.
And in Scotland scores of sheep at a farm in Perth were being rescued after being stranded on a hilltop by rising flood waters, the fire service said.
The 100-strong flock are on top of a mound in a field in Mains of Aberdalgie Farm. They became trapped when the nearby River Earn burst its banks.
A spokeswoman for Tayside Fire and Rescue Service said the farmer was rescuing the sheep himself, and that the high water levels were caused by snow thawing on the hills and swelling the river.A spokeswoman for Tayside Fire and Rescue Service said the farmer was rescuing the sheep himself, and that the high water levels were caused by snow thawing on the hills and swelling the river.
And in Cheshire, fire crews rescued a woman from the roof of her car shortly before 0700 BST after she became stranded because of floodwater in Crewe.
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