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| Torrential rain sweeps across UK | Torrential rain sweeps across UK |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Torrential rain is sweeping across the UK, with flash floods leaving some homes waterlogged and schools closed. | Torrential rain is sweeping across the UK, with flash floods leaving some homes waterlogged and schools closed. |
| Berkshire is one of the worst affected areas, and the council is handing out sandbags to residents in Maidenhead. | |
| The band of severe weather has hit southern and central England and Wales, and will move north to reach Scotland and Northern Ireland over the weekend. | The band of severe weather has hit southern and central England and Wales, and will move north to reach Scotland and Northern Ireland over the weekend. |
| The Met Office has severe weather warnings for Wales and across central, south and east England on Friday. | |
| Warnings are in place for north west England and north Wales on Saturday. | |
| Rain is falling at up to 24mm (1in) an hour and some areas could see levels reach 70mm (2.8in) in 24 hours. | |
| The Environment Agency has two flood warnings, both in north east England on the River Hull. | |
| Car rescue | Car rescue |
| Many areas of Berkshire have been affected by flash flooding, where at least three schools in Windsor and one in Maidenhead have been closed. | |
| In Maidenhead, at least 30 homes have flooded and at least one woman had to be rescued from her car. | |
| Wet weather will spread across the country over the weekend class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6908187.stm">Your pics: Berkshire floods | |
| The town's main shopping centre is shut as are several other town centre stores. | |
| A National Trust property, Basildon Park, in the west of the county has been closed because shops and the car park are flooded, and homes in Newbury have also been flooded. | |
| Five people have been reported trapped by flash flooding on the first floor of a building in Barry, south Wales, where members of the public have requested sandbags and a fire service dinghy has been sent. | Five people have been reported trapped by flash flooding on the first floor of a building in Barry, south Wales, where members of the public have requested sandbags and a fire service dinghy has been sent. |
| In south Northamptonshire, the villages of Syresham and Helmdon - where the junior school has been evacuated - have been worst affected. | |
| In Hereford, the council is handing out wellington boots to help motorists rescue about 200 vehicles stranded in a car park. | |
| Roads flooded | Roads flooded |
| BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said most counties west of London, and as far north as Manchester, were affected. | BBC weather forecaster Rob McElwee said most counties west of London, and as far north as Manchester, were affected. |
| He said: "The whole lot will move slowly northwards and during Saturday it will be trying to cover Scotland and Northern Ireland." | He said: "The whole lot will move slowly northwards and during Saturday it will be trying to cover Scotland and Northern Ireland." |
| Julia Abbott, from BBC Travel, said roads were being affected by flooding and surface spray mostly in south-east and south-west England. | Julia Abbott, from BBC Travel, said roads were being affected by flooding and surface spray mostly in south-east and south-west England. |
| They include the M4 and A404 in Berkshire, the A421 in Buckinghamshire and the A443 in Worcestershire. | They include the M4 and A404 in Berkshire, the A421 in Buckinghamshire and the A443 in Worcestershire. |
| Residents evacuated | Residents evacuated |
| Residents have been evacuated from villages in North Yorkshire after Skeeby Beck burst its banks. | Residents have been evacuated from villages in North Yorkshire after Skeeby Beck burst its banks. |
| Up to 25 fire crews have been dispatched, but North Yorkshire Police have said that flooding has "subsided significantly". | Up to 25 fire crews have been dispatched, but North Yorkshire Police have said that flooding has "subsided significantly". |
| The villages affected include Gilling West, where 30 homes have been evacuated, Scotch Corner, Melsonby, Kirby Hill, Middleton Tyas and Ravensworth, while a number of side roads off the A66 are still closed. | The villages affected include Gilling West, where 30 homes have been evacuated, Scotch Corner, Melsonby, Kirby Hill, Middleton Tyas and Ravensworth, while a number of side roads off the A66 are still closed. |
| School holidays | School holidays |
| People across the country have been told the weather could lead to flooding and cause disruption to outdoor events and transport networks. | People across the country have been told the weather could lead to flooding and cause disruption to outdoor events and transport networks. |
| The Highways Agency has warned rain and spray can reduce visibility and more than double the distance it takes vehicles to stop. | The Highways Agency has warned rain and spray can reduce visibility and more than double the distance it takes vehicles to stop. |
| Greater numbers of motorists than normal are expected to take to the roads because it is the start of the school holidays in many areas. | Greater numbers of motorists than normal are expected to take to the roads because it is the start of the school holidays in many areas. |
| Road users in the West Midlands particularly were advised that heavy rain could affect their journeys. | Road users in the West Midlands particularly were advised that heavy rain could affect their journeys. |
| Tory leader David Cameron is to visit an area of Lincoln on Friday afternoon to see the damage caused by the recent floods. | Tory leader David Cameron is to visit an area of Lincoln on Friday afternoon to see the damage caused by the recent floods. |
| In June, four people died in floods which inundated parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire, with more than 30,000 homes and 7,000 businesses affected. | In June, four people died in floods which inundated parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire, with more than 30,000 homes and 7,000 businesses affected. |