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| Braunton flooded after river defences breached | Braunton flooded after river defences breached |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dozens of properties have been flooded in a Devon village after £1m river defences were "overwhelmed". | |
| The main road through Braunton is under several feet of water as heavy rain led to flooding across the South West. | The main road through Braunton is under several feet of water as heavy rain led to flooding across the South West. |
| In Cornwall, about 160 properties have been affected and the Environment Agency has issued four severe flood warnings, all in south-west England. | |
| First Great Western trains have advised passengers not to travel as lines were closed between Taunton and Plymouth. | |
| The Met Office has an amber warning for more heavy rain across the south-west of England for Saturday and Sunday and for Devon and Cornwall on Monday. | The Met Office has an amber warning for more heavy rain across the south-west of England for Saturday and Sunday and for Devon and Cornwall on Monday. |
| 'Absolutely flooded' | 'Absolutely flooded' |
| The Environment Agency said the River Caen had breached a section of the flood defence in Braunton. | The Environment Agency said the River Caen had breached a section of the flood defence in Braunton. |
| In June, when the defences were completed, the agency said the works meant flooding of the river would be reduced from a one-in-20 chance of occurring in a particular year to one-in-100. | In June, when the defences were completed, the agency said the works meant flooding of the river would be reduced from a one-in-20 chance of occurring in a particular year to one-in-100. |
| Flood prevention walls, a flood relief culvert and the river was widened during the work. | Flood prevention walls, a flood relief culvert and the river was widened during the work. |
| But chairwoman of Braunton Parish Council Liz Spear said the defences were overwhelmed by the volume of water that hit the town. | But chairwoman of Braunton Parish Council Liz Spear said the defences were overwhelmed by the volume of water that hit the town. |
| She said: "It's really bad. We had flooding seven years ago, but it was nothing like this." | She said: "It's really bad. We had flooding seven years ago, but it was nothing like this." |
| Mark Ridge, who took over the London Inn earlier this year, said: "We were hoping this weekend would be our bumper weekend, to carry us through January, but it's just killed it now. | Mark Ridge, who took over the London Inn earlier this year, said: "We were hoping this weekend would be our bumper weekend, to carry us through January, but it's just killed it now. |
| "You just can't put words to it how devastated you are - you work hard all year round and this happens three days before Christmas." | "You just can't put words to it how devastated you are - you work hard all year round and this happens three days before Christmas." |
| Annette Essex, who runs Top'n'Tails pet shop, said: "It was like a torrent of water. It was quite scary because you could hear the swish of the water and the whole road just turned into a river in the space of about 30-40 minutes." | Annette Essex, who runs Top'n'Tails pet shop, said: "It was like a torrent of water. It was quite scary because you could hear the swish of the water and the whole road just turned into a river in the space of about 30-40 minutes." |
| Peter Robinson, the director and founder of the Museum of British Surfing which is in the centre of the village, said: "It happened about four, five years ago, but this time it's really bad. We've had a £1m flood defence system put in, but it didn't hold." | Peter Robinson, the director and founder of the Museum of British Surfing which is in the centre of the village, said: "It happened about four, five years ago, but this time it's really bad. We've had a £1m flood defence system put in, but it didn't hold." |
| Dozens evacuated | Dozens evacuated |
| At one stage parts of the village centre were under 3ft of water. Firefighters used pumps to clear 7,000 litres of water an hour from the roads as rain eased. | |
| A severe flood warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Cober At Helston. | A severe flood warning has been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Cober At Helston. |
| In the early hours the water level increased and the flood defence breached. | In the early hours the water level increased and the flood defence breached. |
| Several tonnes of water swept through the high street and it remains in a dip at the bottom of Caen Street. | Several tonnes of water swept through the high street and it remains in a dip at the bottom of Caen Street. |
| Despite sandbags being put in place many properties are underwater. | Despite sandbags being put in place many properties are underwater. |
| An enormous pump the size of a small car is trying to get the water out of this dip. | An enormous pump the size of a small car is trying to get the water out of this dip. |
| Sand bags have been put into the breached area and the water level in the river is dropping. | Sand bags have been put into the breached area and the water level in the river is dropping. |
| Cornwall Fire Service said 190 people were advised to leave their homes shortly after 01:00 GMT amid fears over the level of the River Cober. | Cornwall Fire Service said 190 people were advised to leave their homes shortly after 01:00 GMT amid fears over the level of the River Cober. |
| The latest forecast from the Met Office suggests further heavy rain in Cornwall between 15:00 GMT and 23:00 GMT. | The latest forecast from the Met Office suggests further heavy rain in Cornwall between 15:00 GMT and 23:00 GMT. |
| There is a possibility of between 20-30mm of rainfall. | There is a possibility of between 20-30mm of rainfall. |
| Fire crews have attended incidents at St Austell, Looe, Helston, Hayle, Torpoint, Penzance, Probus, Durgan, Millbrook, St Columb and St Just. | Fire crews have attended incidents at St Austell, Looe, Helston, Hayle, Torpoint, Penzance, Probus, Durgan, Millbrook, St Columb and St Just. |
| In Lostwithiel 195 people were advised to leave their homes, and a rest area was set up in the Community Centre. | In Lostwithiel 195 people were advised to leave their homes, and a rest area was set up in the Community Centre. |
| In Devon, residents in the village of Colebrook, near Plymouth, were evacuated and in Plympton 15 people were forced to move after the Long Brook burst its bank. | In Devon, residents in the village of Colebrook, near Plymouth, were evacuated and in Plympton 15 people were forced to move after the Long Brook burst its bank. |
| First Great Western has advised rail passengers whose travel is not essential to avoid any journeys west of Taunton in Somerset because of flooding and landslips. | First Great Western has advised rail passengers whose travel is not essential to avoid any journeys west of Taunton in Somerset because of flooding and landslips. |
| The train operator said road vehicles were being used to transport passengers between Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth, but the service was being hampered by flooded roads. | The train operator said road vehicles were being used to transport passengers between Taunton, Exeter and Plymouth, but the service was being hampered by flooded roads. |
| Branch-line services were badly affected on Saturday with no trains running on the Par to Newquay, Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple or Liskeard to Looe lines. | Branch-line services were badly affected on Saturday with no trains running on the Par to Newquay, Exeter St Davids to Barnstaple or Liskeard to Looe lines. |
| In Dorset there was a significant landslip on the coast for the second day running. | In Dorset there was a significant landslip on the coast for the second day running. |
| Portland Coastguard said the fall had been reported by its rescue team on the northern part of Swanage Beach. | Portland Coastguard said the fall had been reported by its rescue team on the northern part of Swanage Beach. |
| Earlier several motorists in Dorset had to be rescued from vehicles stuck in flood water. | Earlier several motorists in Dorset had to be rescued from vehicles stuck in flood water. |
| Meanwhile in Sussex heavy rain is thought to have caused a mudslide which has partially blocked Powdermill Lane at Catsfield. | Meanwhile in Sussex heavy rain is thought to have caused a mudslide which has partially blocked Powdermill Lane at Catsfield. |
| In total, the Environment Agency has issued more than 90 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and more than 270 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, for England and Wales. | In total, the Environment Agency has issued more than 90 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and more than 270 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, for England and Wales. |