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| Hundreds rescued as floods strike | Hundreds rescued as floods strike |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 750 people stranded in cars, caravans, houses and boats have been rescued from floods in Worcestershire. | More than 750 people stranded in cars, caravans, houses and boats have been rescued from floods in Worcestershire. |
| The authorities have asked for military help after a night described by Hereford and Worcester Fire Service as its "worst in living memory". | The authorities have asked for military help after a night described by Hereford and Worcester Fire Service as its "worst in living memory". |
| West Mercia Police said thieves had broken into abandoned vehicles in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. | West Mercia Police said thieves had broken into abandoned vehicles in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. |
| About 20 special needs children trapped at Evesham's Vale of Evesham Special School could spend another night there. | About 20 special needs children trapped at Evesham's Vale of Evesham Special School could spend another night there. |
| Anne Starr, from the school, said many of the children had a bed for the night because it was a residential school. | Anne Starr, from the school, said many of the children had a bed for the night because it was a residential school. |
| 'Quite challenging' | 'Quite challenging' |
| She said: "Parents have been trying to get to us but have been turned back by police. We are planning to stay another night here. | She said: "Parents have been trying to get to us but have been turned back by police. We are planning to stay another night here. |
| Droitwich has also been hit by flooding - pic by Rags Mahone href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6909028.stm">Your pictures: Worcestershir floods | |
| "We've managed to keep safe, we're dry, we've had plenty to eat, so we're OK. | "We've managed to keep safe, we're dry, we've had plenty to eat, so we're OK. |
| "Some of the youngsters thought it was a great adventure. Others found it quite challenging as their routines have been changed." | "Some of the youngsters thought it was a great adventure. Others found it quite challenging as their routines have been changed." |
| The fire service said it had received more than 2,000 calls in 27 hours, more than 10% of its annual figure. | The fire service said it had received more than 2,000 calls in 27 hours, more than 10% of its annual figure. |
| The authorities coordinating the emergency response in Worcestershire have now asked for military help, in particular the use of helicopters and specialist vehicles to assists with evacuations. | The authorities coordinating the emergency response in Worcestershire have now asked for military help, in particular the use of helicopters and specialist vehicles to assists with evacuations. |
| People have been urged not to travel or contact the emergency services unless it is absolutely necessary. | People have been urged not to travel or contact the emergency services unless it is absolutely necessary. |
| Elsewhere in the county 200 people were stranded at the New Inn at Cropthorn overnight without power or water. | Elsewhere in the county 200 people were stranded at the New Inn at Cropthorn overnight without power or water. |
| Vehicles stranded | Vehicles stranded |
| It took in coachloads of people when a road collapsed and then floods cut off the area. | It took in coachloads of people when a road collapsed and then floods cut off the area. |
| An eyewitness in Evesham watched caravans float down the river and bang into the main bridge. | An eyewitness in Evesham watched caravans float down the river and bang into the main bridge. |
| Caravans and boats have smashed into the bridge in Evesham - pic by Matt Capper | Caravans and boats have smashed into the bridge in Evesham - pic by Matt Capper |
| Store manager Wayne Beal said: "It's a surreal sight. The bridge is actually getting battered by the caravans which are floating up the river. | Store manager Wayne Beal said: "It's a surreal sight. The bridge is actually getting battered by the caravans which are floating up the river. |
| "Your heart goes out to these people whose caravans are getting smashed to smithereens against the bridge." | "Your heart goes out to these people whose caravans are getting smashed to smithereens against the bridge." |
| About 10,000 vehicles were stranded overnight on the M5 in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. | About 10,000 vehicles were stranded overnight on the M5 in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. |
| The M5 later reopened but the M50 remains shut eastbound. | The M5 later reopened but the M50 remains shut eastbound. |
| Meanwhile the village of Wolverley has become completely cut off after the River Stour burst its banks. | Meanwhile the village of Wolverley has become completely cut off after the River Stour burst its banks. |
| Children rescued | Children rescued |
| Evesham is cut off and the bridge has been closed, as has the one in Worcester, Tenbury Wells and Bewdley. | Evesham is cut off and the bridge has been closed, as has the one in Worcester, Tenbury Wells and Bewdley. |
| Stourport-on-Severn is also suffering from severe flooding and four boats from the RNLI have travelled up the county. | Stourport-on-Severn is also suffering from severe flooding and four boats from the RNLI have travelled up the county. |
| People were rescued from rooftops by helicopter in Sedgeberrow | People were rescued from rooftops by helicopter in Sedgeberrow |
| Justin Owen, a spokesman for RAF Kinloss, in Morayshire, said five helicopters had rescued "in excess of 100 people". | Justin Owen, a spokesman for RAF Kinloss, in Morayshire, said five helicopters had rescued "in excess of 100 people". |
| Elsewhere in the county, two people had to be rescued from the River Avon. | Elsewhere in the county, two people had to be rescued from the River Avon. |
| Earlier RAF helicopters plucked more than 60 villagers from their rooftops and bedroom windows in Sedgeberrow when the River Isbourne broke its banks. | Earlier RAF helicopters plucked more than 60 villagers from their rooftops and bedroom windows in Sedgeberrow when the River Isbourne broke its banks. |
| Firefighters also had to rescue children at Cherry Orchard Primary School in Worcester when water flowed into their building. | Firefighters also had to rescue children at Cherry Orchard Primary School in Worcester when water flowed into their building. |
| Train services in Worcester were disrupted when a landslide blocked a tunnel near Shrub Hill station. | Train services in Worcester were disrupted when a landslide blocked a tunnel near Shrub Hill station. |
| Dozens of residents were evacuated from a caravan park off the A44 at Petty Bridge, near Bromyard in Herefordshire, where the River Froome burst its banks. | Dozens of residents were evacuated from a caravan park off the A44 at Petty Bridge, near Bromyard in Herefordshire, where the River Froome burst its banks. |
| In Ledbury a tunnel close to the railway station was also flooded, causing severe disruption to trains between Worcester and Hereford, transport officials said. | In Ledbury a tunnel close to the railway station was also flooded, causing severe disruption to trains between Worcester and Hereford, transport officials said. |
| Malvern Link railway station was under a foot of water and there was water on the line between Bromsgrove and Cheltenham. | Malvern Link railway station was under a foot of water and there was water on the line between Bromsgrove and Cheltenham. |