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Flood victims remain in shelters Flood victims remain in shelters
(30 minutes later)
More than 1,000 people have spent a second night in emergency shelters after their homes were hit by floods.More than 1,000 people have spent a second night in emergency shelters after their homes were hit by floods.
Large areas of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire are still under water.Large areas of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire are still under water.
And there are eight severe flood warnings, covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London.And there are eight severe flood warnings, covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and parts of London.
The Environment Agency says it could not have prepared for the scale of the flooding. But critics say ministers failed to prepare for the crisis.The Environment Agency says it could not have prepared for the scale of the flooding. But critics say ministers failed to prepare for the crisis.
The main developments include:The main developments include:
  • Parts of Worcestershire are under six feet of water. In Evesham, more than 30 guests and staff are still trapped on the upper floors of the Northwick Hotel
  • Parts of Worcestershire are under six feet of water. In Evesham, more than 30 guests and staff are still trapped on the upper floors of the Northwick Hotel
  • The Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury remains almost completely cut off - and Severn Trent Water is warning householders in the north of the county that water supplies could run out by early Sunday evening because a treatment plant has been flooded
  • The Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury remains almost completely cut off - and Severn Trent Water is warning householders in the north of the county that water supplies could run out by early Sunday evening because a treatment plant has been flooded
  • Sutton and East Surrey Water has warned 80,000 households and businesses in Sutton to boil tap water before drinking it after the firm discovered rain had leaked into a tank of water which had gone out to customers.
  • Sutton and East Surrey Water has warned 80,000 households and businesses in Sutton to boil tap water before drinking it after the firm discovered rain had leaked into a tank of water which had gone out to customers.
    • FloodlineFloodline
    Meanwhile Baroness Young, the agency's chief executive, told the BBC: "It would have been difficult for even the best planned flood defences to withstand [the floods]. The forecasting and warning was as good as it could have been."Meanwhile Baroness Young, the agency's chief executive, told the BBC: "It would have been difficult for even the best planned flood defences to withstand [the floods]. The forecasting and warning was as good as it could have been."
    She said following Met Office predictions early last week there had been extensive warnings about the floods on radio and television as well as on the Environment Agency website and telephone "floodline" on 0845 988 1188.She said following Met Office predictions early last week there had been extensive warnings about the floods on radio and television as well as on the Environment Agency website and telephone "floodline" on 0845 988 1188.
    YOUR PICTURES Your images of flooding from around the countryYOUR PICTURES Your images of flooding from around the country
    Baroness Young urged people to continue checking these information sources and to plan how they would cope if forced to evacuate their home.Baroness Young urged people to continue checking these information sources and to plan how they would cope if forced to evacuate their home.
    She added that the difficulty had been in dealing with the unprecedented scale of the flooding.She added that the difficulty had been in dealing with the unprecedented scale of the flooding.
    David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said "concerted action" was needed from the government, particularly to help the uninsured.David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said "concerted action" was needed from the government, particularly to help the uninsured.
    And Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said the government had been "too slow to wake up to the potentially devastating effects of extreme rainfall overwhelming drains and sewers".And Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Chris Huhne said the government had been "too slow to wake up to the potentially devastating effects of extreme rainfall overwhelming drains and sewers".
    Warm clothingWarm clothing
    Oxfordshire is preparing for more localised flooding by closing roads and issuing residents with sandbags to protect their homes.Oxfordshire is preparing for more localised flooding by closing roads and issuing residents with sandbags to protect their homes.
    John Parry, of Oxfordshire County Council, said people should "consider moving upstairs, or consider staying with family or friends".John Parry, of Oxfordshire County Council, said people should "consider moving upstairs, or consider staying with family or friends".
    And police have advised anyone travelling through Hereford and Worcestershire to pack supplies and warm clothing as more rain is predicted.And police have advised anyone travelling through Hereford and Worcestershire to pack supplies and warm clothing as more rain is predicted.
    Around 100 people in Worcestershire had to be airlifted to safety by the Royal Air Force, while more than 1,000 spent the night in emergency rest centres.Around 100 people in Worcestershire had to be airlifted to safety by the Royal Air Force, while more than 1,000 spent the night in emergency rest centres.
    Despite the heightened risk of flooding to central and southern England, the Met Office does not have any severe weather warnings in place.Despite the heightened risk of flooding to central and southern England, the Met Office does not have any severe weather warnings in place.
    BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said parts of the country will experience scattered showers on Sunday, but there will be plenty of sunshine, and patchy rain will appear in Wales during the morning.BBC forecaster Chris Fawkes said parts of the country will experience scattered showers on Sunday, but there will be plenty of sunshine, and patchy rain will appear in Wales during the morning.
    There will be also outbreaks of rain across the north east of Scotland, which could lead to heavier bursts.There will be also outbreaks of rain across the north east of Scotland, which could lead to heavier bursts.
    HAVE YOUR SAY No wonder there's so much flooding. The roadside drains are simply not cleaned out until people actually complain to their councils. Craig, Bradford Send us your experiences Lincoln flood warnings HAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester Send us your experiences Lincoln flood warnings
    The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the final bill for damage and disruption was expected to run into "hundreds of millions".The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said the final bill for damage and disruption was expected to run into "hundreds of millions".
    Kelly Ostler, of the ABI, told the BBC reports of householders not being able to get insurance unless they protected their homes against flooding were inaccurate.Kelly Ostler, of the ABI, told the BBC reports of householders not being able to get insurance unless they protected their homes against flooding were inaccurate.
    "We have - the industry that is - has a statement of principles with the government that says any home that has insurance at the moment, household and buildings insurance, for flooding and they have maintained flood defences by the government in the area, then they will always have flood cover.""We have - the industry that is - has a statement of principles with the government that says any home that has insurance at the moment, household and buildings insurance, for flooding and they have maintained flood defences by the government in the area, then they will always have flood cover."
    Emergency rescuesEmergency rescues
    Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, which received more than 2,000 calls and rescued more than 750 people, said by Sunday things had begun to calm down.Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, which received more than 2,000 calls and rescued more than 750 people, said by Sunday things had begun to calm down.
    Mike Redfern, Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Hereford and Worcester, said: "We've got flood watches, flood alerts, on all the main river systems and we're watching that very closely," adding that the situation was now "fairly well under control".Mike Redfern, Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Hereford and Worcester, said: "We've got flood watches, flood alerts, on all the main river systems and we're watching that very closely," adding that the situation was now "fairly well under control".
    The Highways Agency said by Saturday evening motorways and trunk roads were no longer affected by flood-related incidents.The Highways Agency said by Saturday evening motorways and trunk roads were no longer affected by flood-related incidents.
    However, many rail services have been cancelled and some smaller roads remain closed.However, many rail services have been cancelled and some smaller roads remain closed.
    Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the flooding had been "an emergency that no-one could have predicted".Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the flooding had been "an emergency that no-one could have predicted".