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Water supplies 'are running out' Emergency water supplies run low
(about 1 hour later)
Emergency supplies of clean water are running out in Gloucester following the recent flooding crisis. Water company bosses have asked the government for urgent help in providing clean supplies to flood-hit Gloucester, amid fears they are running out.
The local water company has asked the government for urgent help, with 350,000 people still without tap water. Severn Trent Water says 350,000 people are without tap water and it could be two weeks before supplies are restored.
In his second visit to the region since the floods, Gordon Brown - who earlier pledged £46m for flood-hit councils - said more bottled water was on the way. Many residents say they have struggled to find any mobile street dispensers - known as bowsers - with water in them.
Gordon Brown, who had earlier pledged £46m for flood-hit councils, promised that more water supplies were coming.
See map of severe flood warnings
Fresh floods have also hit Oxford while areas further along the Thames have been told water levels may peak later.Fresh floods have also hit Oxford while areas further along the Thames have been told water levels may peak later.
Water covered the pitch at Abingdon Town FC in Oxfordshire Floods: At-a-glance New alert in Cambridgeshire Oxford homes flooded Two-week wait for water Nurses to make up lost time
Homes were evacuated in Oxford overnight while places including Reading, Henley and Caversham are braced for similar flooding.Homes were evacuated in Oxford overnight while places including Reading, Henley and Caversham are braced for similar flooding.
Gordon Brown also told the House of Commons he would push insurance firms to make payouts.
Animal appeal
The Environment Agency still has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn - in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester - two on the Thames around Oxford, and one on the Ock, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.The Environment Agency still has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn - in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester - two on the Thames around Oxford, and one on the Ock, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.
BBC weather forecasters said flood-hit areas would see heavy rain of 10mm to 15mm on Thursday. BBC weather forecasters said flood-hit areas would see heavy rain of 10mm to 15mm on Thursday, which could slow the speed at which waters recede.
These levels are not expected to make the flooding worse but could slow the speed at which waters recede. In Gloucestershire, water supplies were cut off after a treatment plant flooded.
class="bodl" href="#anchor">See map of severe flood warnings name="back"> Severn Trent Water is supplying more than 1,000 bowsers, while the Army delivered four million bottles of water on Wednesday.
Water levels in the Thames around Oxford rose throughout the night and are expected to peak later.
The Environment Agency said the river had breached its banks in Henley early on Wednesday evening and flooding was possible. It is expected waters will rise in Reading and Caversham later.
Water covered the pitch at Abingdon Town FC in Oxfordshire Floods: At-a-glance New alert in Cambridgeshire Oxford homes flooded Two-week wait for water Nurses to make up lost time
Waters are also predicted to peak at Pangbourne, Purley-on-Thames and Mapledurham on Wednesday evening, with residents braced for floods.
It is predicted Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead will escape flooding while Marlow, Cookham, and Staines will see limited flooding later this week.
Responding to questions in the House of Commons Mr Brown said all councils affected by the floods would receive 100% compensation.
He said £46m had been made available by the government in the immediate future and annual spending on flood protection would rise to £800m by 2010/11.
Meanwhile, the RSPCA has launched an appeal for donations, saying the rescue of pets and farm animals has already cost £300,000 and involved the biggest deployment of its staff for a generation.
'Bubbling up'
Of those evacuated in Oxford, about 30 people went to a shelter set up at Oxford United Football Club's Kassam stadium while another 250 decided to stay with family and friends.
Those who stayed in their homes told how water began flowing in at about 0300 BST.
Angela MacKeith, 61, said: "We are under 2ft of water throughout the house.
"The awful thing is that this time last year we were in the same situation after a flash flood.
"It appeared to be bubbling straight up from the water table."
The Environment Agency's Robert Runcie said it was not the Thames causing the problems in Oxford, but the tributaries flowing into it and creating the higher levels.
There had been concerns about Osney Mead substation, which supplies power to Oxford city centre, but this has now receded, according to the county council.
HAVE YOUR SAY I having trouble getting to water as I don't drive and have three small children and I can't get to supermarkets to get bottled water Samantha, Gloucester Send us your experiences
In Gloucestershire, water supplies have been cut off after a treatment plant flooded. Those without tap water have been getting supplies, but could be cut off for up to 14 days.
Severn Trent Water is supplying water tankers known as bowsers, while the army is delivering three million bottles of water a day from a base Cheltenham racecourse.
But Gloucestershire's Chief Constable Tim Brain said there had been instances of people "behaving most selfishly", using "very large receptacles" to empty bowsers and trying to resell water at inflated prices.But Gloucestershire's Chief Constable Tim Brain said there had been instances of people "behaving most selfishly", using "very large receptacles" to empty bowsers and trying to resell water at inflated prices.
"That is simply theft and it is being treated as theft," he said."That is simply theft and it is being treated as theft," he said.
Visiting Gloucestershire on Wednesday, Mr Brown said great efforts were being made to help those without water, but added: "We've got to get the supplies stepped up." Government review
A Severn Trent spokesman said they were aiming to do four or five refills per day but that one bowser could be emptied in less than half an hour if people filled up large containers.
HAVE YOUR SAY I having trouble getting to water as I don't drive and have three small children and I can't get to supermarkets to get bottled water Samantha, Gloucester Send us your experiences
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, on his second visit to the region since the floods, said great efforts were being made to help those without water, but added: "We've got to get the supplies stepped up.
"We will get more tankers in, we will get more bowsers in, we will get more regular filling of them, and at the same time, more bottled water will be provided.""We will get more tankers in, we will get more bowsers in, we will get more regular filling of them, and at the same time, more bottled water will be provided."
The prime minister said the loss of water supply was a "disappointment", but insisted a government review of the flood crisis and the response to it would look at whether similar problems could be avoided in future. He said a government review of the flood crisis and the response to it would look at whether similar problems could be avoided in future.
'War-time spirit' Mr Brown also told the House of Commons he would push insurance firms to make payouts.
Long queues formed in supermarket car parks on Wednesday as people waited to collect their daily ration of six two-litre bottles of water. Responding to questions in the Commons, Mr Brown said all councils affected by the floods would receive 100% compensation.
RAIL DISRUPTION Central Trains - services between Great Malvern and Hereford suspendedFirst Great Western - services suspended between Oxford and Didcot, and Oxford and WorcesterVirgin trains - services between Oxford and Reading suspended Latest from BBC Travel
He said that besides immediate spending, annual funds for flood protection would rise to £800m by 2010/11.
In Gloucestershire long queues formed in supermarket car parks as people waited to collect their daily ration of six two-litre bottles of water.
At Tesco in Quedgeley residents said the crisis had fostered a war-time spirit.At Tesco in Quedgeley residents said the crisis had fostered a war-time spirit.
Reginald Davies, 91, who fought during the Second World War, said: "I did five days without water in Burma. Reginald Davies, 91, who fought during World War II, said: "I did five days without water in Burma.
"I've seen men go mad from thirst. This is nothing. The worst thing is getting out of bed in the morning at 91 to get water." "I've seen men go mad from thirst. This is nothing."
Five brewing companies, Coors, Carlsberg, Scottish and Newcastle, Inbev and Greene King, have offered the use of 23 beer tankers to help with the delivery of drinking water.
Dr Brain said it could take seven to 14 days to restore supplies, but advised people to remain calm as there was enough water for everyone.
Severn Trent Water said on Wednesday evening that it hoped to use a temporary solution to restore water supply to 10,000 homes in Tewkesbury from Thursday.Severn Trent Water said on Wednesday evening that it hoped to use a temporary solution to restore water supply to 10,000 homes in Tewkesbury from Thursday.
Gloucestershire County Council's chief executive Peter Bungard said the council had received 10,000 calls for help and advice since Monday morning. Meanwhile police said Mitchell Taylor, 19, who has not been seen since leaving a bar in Tewkesbury at the height of the floods on Saturday, was still missing.
He said there were about 25,000 elderly and vulnerable adults in the county and that 1,400 portable toilets had been ordered for those most in need.
RAIL DISRUPTION Central Trains - services between Great Malvern and Hereford suspendedFirst Great Western - services suspended between Oxford and Didcot, and Oxford and WorcesterVirgin trains - services between Oxford and Reading suspended Latest from BBC Travel
Gloucestershire Police said teenager Mitchell Taylor, 19, who has not been seen since the height of the floods was still missing.
He disappeared after leaving a bar in Tewkesbury in the early hours of Saturday. It is not known if his disappearance is related to the floods.
There have been calls for the government to seek money from the EU's Solidarity Fund to help cover costs arising from the floods.
Conservative MEP for the South West Neil Parish said: "There's money available to restore the infrastructure for drinking water, transport, telecommunications, health and education."
The European Commission's Anthony Gooch told the BBC: "If Britain wants money from the Solidarity Fund then there's every chance it will get it. A major disaster of these proportions is exactly the sort of unfortunate event that we created this facility for."
Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188
SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to Abingdon SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to Abingdon
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Have you been affected by the evacuation? How are the drinking water supplies so far? The BBC would like to hear from anyone affected by the floods. Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences.Have you been affected by the evacuation? How are the drinking water supplies so far? The BBC would like to hear from anyone affected by the floods. Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences.
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