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Flood-hit areas on weather alert Flood-hit areas on weather alert
(30 minutes later)
Flood-hit communities are being warned to brace themselves for more torrential rain over the weekend. Flood-hit communities have experienced light rainfall during the start of the weekend, but are braced for heavier downpours overnight.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for large areas of England and Wales, with up to 40mm of rain forecast in some places. The BBC Weather Centre said 4-5mm fell during the morning, but 25mm could hit flooded areas in the next 24 hours.
A national flood support centre has been set up in Worcester to respond to further outbreaks of severe weather.A national flood support centre has been set up in Worcester to respond to further outbreaks of severe weather.
Widespread flooding in England earlier this week killed four people and forced thousands from their homes.Widespread flooding in England earlier this week killed four people and forced thousands from their homes.
Extra resourcesExtra resources
Martin Blunden from Hereford and Worcester Fire Service is helping to co-ordinate work at the flood support centre, which is gathering information from emergency services across the country to co-ordinate responses to reports of flooding.Martin Blunden from Hereford and Worcester Fire Service is helping to co-ordinate work at the flood support centre, which is gathering information from emergency services across the country to co-ordinate responses to reports of flooding.
Mr Blunden told BBC News 24 that an action plan was already being put into place, moving teams to Humberside to assist with flooding expected there later on Saturday.Mr Blunden told BBC News 24 that an action plan was already being put into place, moving teams to Humberside to assist with flooding expected there later on Saturday.
HAVE YOUR SAY The Government needs to build a comprehensive flood protection system Nick, Oxford Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The Government needs to build a comprehensive flood protection system Nick, Oxford Send us your comments
He said: "Humberside is coping with floods and the water levels they've currently got.He said: "Humberside is coping with floods and the water levels they've currently got.
"With the Met Office and the Environment Agency, we're looking at what is likely to happen in the UK later on this afternoon, this evening and into tomorrow, and we're making sure that appropriate resources are in place for when that actually happens.""With the Met Office and the Environment Agency, we're looking at what is likely to happen in the UK later on this afternoon, this evening and into tomorrow, and we're making sure that appropriate resources are in place for when that actually happens."
Further developments include:Further developments include:
  • Electricity has been restored to more than 80,000 homes affected by rains and flooding in South Yorkshire, but 400 homes still have no power
  • Electricity has been restored to more than 80,000 homes affected by rains and flooding in South Yorkshire, but 400 homes still have no power
  • Rainfall of 15-25mm (0.6-1in) is predicted across many parts of England and Wales but there could be up to 40mm in some places
  • Rainfall of 15-25mm (0.6-1in) is predicted across many parts of England and Wales but there could be up to 40mm in some places
  • Simon Hughes of the Environment Agency, said more flooding was expected: "With the land being just so saturated, more rain's going to mean more flooding."
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  • Simon Hughes of the Environment Agency, said more flooding was expected: "With the land being just so saturated, more rain's going to mean more flooding"
  • The Met Office said the worst of the heavy rain would be seen in western England and Wales during Saturday
  • More than 350 people were evacuated from their homes in north Doncaster after the river burst its banks
  • More than 350 people were evacuated from their homes in north Doncaster after the river burst its banks
  • The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said so far 27,000 homes and 5,000 businesses had been affected across the country and that clean-up costs could reach £1bn
  • The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said so far 27,000 homes and 5,000 businesses had been affected across the country and that clean-up costs could reach £1bn
    • Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is calling on the government to find more cash to encourage farmers to manage their land in a way that would prevent flooding.Meanwhile, the Environment Agency is calling on the government to find more cash to encourage farmers to manage their land in a way that would prevent flooding.
    Catcliffe, South Yorkshire, was one of the worst affected areasCatcliffe, South Yorkshire, was one of the worst affected areas
    The agency's head, Baroness Young, says money should be diverted from the basic farm subsidy and given to those farmers who are prepared to give up the intensive techniques experts say make flooding more likely.The agency's head, Baroness Young, says money should be diverted from the basic farm subsidy and given to those farmers who are prepared to give up the intensive techniques experts say make flooding more likely.
    She says farmers should be paid to plant more trees, allow land beside rivers to flood when necessary and to turn ploughed fields into meadows.She says farmers should be paid to plant more trees, allow land beside rivers to flood when necessary and to turn ploughed fields into meadows.
    But correspondent Miriam O'Reilly, of BBC Radio 4's Farming Today, said experts had acknowledged that the recent rainfall had been so heavy that no amount of money could have prevented rivers from bursting their banks.But correspondent Miriam O'Reilly, of BBC Radio 4's Farming Today, said experts had acknowledged that the recent rainfall had been so heavy that no amount of money could have prevented rivers from bursting their banks.
    This week's floods were most severe in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands.This week's floods were most severe in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the Midlands.
    Two people died in Sheffield, including a teenage boy, a man died in Hull and a driver died in Worcestershire.Two people died in Sheffield, including a teenage boy, a man died in Hull and a driver died in Worcestershire.