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Christmas getaway: millions face floods, delays and disruption Christmas getaway: millions face floods, delays and disruption
(about 1 hour later)
The millions of people embarking on the great Christmas getaway this weekend will have to contend with the threat of more rain and flooding, which could bring further disruption, delays and misery to the roads and railways.The millions of people embarking on the great Christmas getaway this weekend will have to contend with the threat of more rain and flooding, which could bring further disruption, delays and misery to the roads and railways.
Friday is expected to be the busiest travelling day of the festive period, with airports, sea ports and the rail and road networks braced to cope with a vast army of travellers.Friday is expected to be the busiest travelling day of the festive period, with airports, sea ports and the rail and road networks braced to cope with a vast army of travellers.
The exodus from Heathrow was also at its greatest, with 123,000 passengers due to depart from the west London airport, which will handle a further 114,000 departures on Sunday and 88,000 on Christmas Eve. The exodus from Heathrow was also at its greatest, with 123,000 passengers due to depart from the airport west of London, which will handle a further 114,000 departures on Sunday and 88,000 on Christmas Eve.
But there are delays of up to an hour on First Great Western trains between London Paddington, Heathrow and Reading because of a signalling problem, and Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services are suspended.But there are delays of up to an hour on First Great Western trains between London Paddington, Heathrow and Reading because of a signalling problem, and Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect services are suspended.
Rail services to Gatwick airport are also disrupted by a major signalling problem at Preston Park near Brighton, and all routes through Blackfriars station in London are being delayed because of signalling problems there and at Elephant & Castle in south London.Rail services to Gatwick airport are also disrupted by a major signalling problem at Preston Park near Brighton, and all routes through Blackfriars station in London are being delayed because of signalling problems there and at Elephant & Castle in south London.
In Cornwall, the First Great Western train company, which was badly hit by heavy rain earlier in the winter, was affected by floods again, with buses having to replace trains between Liskeard and Looe.In Cornwall, the First Great Western train company, which was badly hit by heavy rain earlier in the winter, was affected by floods again, with buses having to replace trains between Liskeard and Looe.
There is also disruption to some Scottish rail services after a landslip between Gleneagles and Perth at about 11am.There is also disruption to some Scottish rail services after a landslip between Gleneagles and Perth at about 11am.
ScotRail said services could be delayed or revised at short notice as a result, with contingency plans in place.ScotRail said services could be delayed or revised at short notice as a result, with contingency plans in place.
Accidents on the M62 in West Yorkshire and on the M1 in South Yorkshire are adding to the overall problems, while traffic is also slow-moving on the M20 in Kent. Accidents on the M62 in West Yorkshire and on the M1 in South Yorkshire are adding to the overall problems, while traffic is also moving slowly on the M20 in Kent.
Among numerous flooded roads are streets in Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Meaford in Staffordshire and Sedgefield in County Durham.Among numerous flooded roads are streets in Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Meaford in Staffordshire and Sedgefield in County Durham.
Many Scottish roads are closed because of flooding, including highways in Fife and in Perth and Kinross.Many Scottish roads are closed because of flooding, including highways in Fife and in Perth and Kinross.
The busiest roads this weekend are likely to be the M25, the M6 in the West Midlands, the M1 near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, the M5 near Bristol and the M62 near Warrington in Cheshire.The busiest roads this weekend are likely to be the M25, the M6 in the West Midlands, the M1 near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, the M5 near Bristol and the M62 near Warrington in Cheshire.
The Highways Agency said roadworks were still under way on the M4 between junctions 10 and 11 at Reading, on the M25 at junctions five and six near Godstone in Surrey and on the M5 between junctions 19 and 21 near Bristol.The Highways Agency said roadworks were still under way on the M4 between junctions 10 and 11 at Reading, on the M25 at junctions five and six near Godstone in Surrey and on the M5 between junctions 19 and 21 near Bristol.
The AA, which predicts Friday and Saturday will be the busiest days for motorists, is warning drivers against using flooded roads, having attended more than 320 breakdowns on Thursday as vehicles got stuck in water.The AA, which predicts Friday and Saturday will be the busiest days for motorists, is warning drivers against using flooded roads, having attended more than 320 breakdowns on Thursday as vehicles got stuck in water.
The Environment Agency said nearly 400 flood alerts and warnings were in place, including 91 more serious flood warnings, focused on the south-west, east Anglia, the Midlands and the north-east.The Environment Agency said nearly 400 flood alerts and warnings were in place, including 91 more serious flood warnings, focused on the south-west, east Anglia, the Midlands and the north-east.
The river Ouse in York was rising steadily, and levels were expected to peak late on Friday afternoon, while the nearby river Ure was also being monitored by Environment Agency staff. In Dorset the river Stour was rising and threatening farmland near Bournemouth.The river Ouse in York was rising steadily, and levels were expected to peak late on Friday afternoon, while the nearby river Ure was also being monitored by Environment Agency staff. In Dorset the river Stour was rising and threatening farmland near Bournemouth.
Heavy rain swept England and Wales on Thursday, leaving residents on tenterhooks as river levels rose.Heavy rain swept England and Wales on Thursday, leaving residents on tenterhooks as river levels rose.
But while large swaths of the country were on alert, there was no repeat of last month's flooding that caused widespread devastation.But while large swaths of the country were on alert, there was no repeat of last month's flooding that caused widespread devastation.
In Wallington, Hampshire, there was a severe flood warning as the river Wallington threatened to burst its banks.In Wallington, Hampshire, there was a severe flood warning as the river Wallington threatened to burst its banks.
Havant borough council evacuated 85 properties as a precaution, the Environment Agency said, and staff reinforced a flood wall that had shown signs of cracking. The wall held, and flood warnings for the area were withdrawn as the levels receded.Havant borough council evacuated 85 properties as a precaution, the Environment Agency said, and staff reinforced a flood wall that had shown signs of cracking. The wall held, and flood warnings for the area were withdrawn as the levels receded.
In Cornwall, there was a minor landslide near Gorran Haven that left a tonne of soil blocking the road.In Cornwall, there was a minor landslide near Gorran Haven that left a tonne of soil blocking the road.
In St Cleer, near Liskeard, one woman had to be rescued from her car after becoming trapped by floodwater, while a man became trapped after he drove over a humpback bridge crossing the Bude canal and found himself surrounded by fast-flowing and rising water, Cornwall council said.In St Cleer, near Liskeard, one woman had to be rescued from her car after becoming trapped by floodwater, while a man became trapped after he drove over a humpback bridge crossing the Bude canal and found himself surrounded by fast-flowing and rising water, Cornwall council said.
Although some parts of the country may even enjoy a flash of sunshine on Friday, forecasters said up to 45mm – almost 2in – of rain could fall in the 24 hours from 6pm, and the Environment Agency was warning people to be braced for more threats of flooding.Although some parts of the country may even enjoy a flash of sunshine on Friday, forecasters said up to 45mm – almost 2in – of rain could fall in the 24 hours from 6pm, and the Environment Agency was warning people to be braced for more threats of flooding.
Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said rain had been confined to the north-east and Scotland overnight, and that Friday would be largely dry.Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said rain had been confined to the north-east and Scotland overnight, and that Friday would be largely dry.
He said: "Throughout today rain will ease in many places, but it will be persistent across eastern Scotland.He said: "Throughout today rain will ease in many places, but it will be persistent across eastern Scotland.
"It will be largely dry for most, with the risk of the odd shower. It will be dry until evening, when the next band of rain moves into the south-west."It will be largely dry for most, with the risk of the odd shower. It will be dry until evening, when the next band of rain moves into the south-west.
"It will rain during the evening, before pushing north-east across most areas overnight, heavy and persistent, with large amounts of rainfall, especially in the south-west, which will see between 40mm and 45mm in the 24 hours to 6pm on Saturday."It will rain during the evening, before pushing north-east across most areas overnight, heavy and persistent, with large amounts of rainfall, especially in the south-west, which will see between 40mm and 45mm in the 24 hours to 6pm on Saturday.
"Through tomorrow the heavy pulse of rain will push north-eastwards, and it will be patchy across much of England and Wales."Through tomorrow the heavy pulse of rain will push north-eastwards, and it will be patchy across much of England and Wales.
"It is a really unsettled picture, and over the next few days there will continue to be a pretty wide risk of flooding.""It is a really unsettled picture, and over the next few days there will continue to be a pretty wide risk of flooding."