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UK prepares for further flooding as downpours continue UK prepares for further flooding as downpours continue
(35 minutes later)
Much of the UK is braced for further flooding caused by heavy rain, which is forecast to continue into Sunday.Much of the UK is braced for further flooding caused by heavy rain, which is forecast to continue into Sunday.
The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place for south west England and nearly 200 flood warnings for England and Wales.The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place for south west England and nearly 200 flood warnings for England and Wales.
In north Devon, police have warned that all minor roads north of Barnstaple may be flooded.In north Devon, police have warned that all minor roads north of Barnstaple may be flooded.
In Cornwall, tents have been issued to residents in Lostwithiel, amid fears of flooding from the River Fowey.In Cornwall, tents have been issued to residents in Lostwithiel, amid fears of flooding from the River Fowey.
Scotland has 16 flood alerts and 17 flood warnings.Scotland has 16 flood alerts and 17 flood warnings.
The Environment Agency said there was a heightened flood risk across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West and East Sussex, south Wales, Ceredigion, Gwynedd and North Yorkshire.The Environment Agency said there was a heightened flood risk across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West and East Sussex, south Wales, Ceredigion, Gwynedd and North Yorkshire.
Paul Mustow, head of flood incident management, said: "With severe flood warnings in force and further rain forecast, it is vital that communities remain flood aware.Paul Mustow, head of flood incident management, said: "With severe flood warnings in force and further rain forecast, it is vital that communities remain flood aware.
"If you're leaving your property empty over Christmas, check the risk of flooding before you leave, move valuable items to safety and ask neighbours to keep an eye on your home.""If you're leaving your property empty over Christmas, check the risk of flooding before you leave, move valuable items to safety and ask neighbours to keep an eye on your home."
The Met Office has issued amber rain warnings for much of Scotland, parts of Yorkshire, Wales and southern England.The Met Office has issued amber rain warnings for much of Scotland, parts of Yorkshire, Wales and southern England.
On Saturday, rail company First Great Western advised "customers with non-essential travel to not attempt to travel West of Taunton in either direction".
In other developments:
  • In the West Country, rail services are suspended between Plymouth, Exeter St Davids and Taunton due to flooding and flood defences have breached in Devon and Cornwall
  • There have been two landslides in Looe, in Cornwall, caused by heavy rain and the village of Hannafore is cut off
  • In Cheshire, Virgin Trains are not running services between Crewe and Chester because of flooding
  • A woman was rescued from her car by passers-by after it was swept into a river in Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan
  • In Scotland, there are no trains between Stirling and Perth until further notice due to flooding
  • Flood barriers have been put up in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, as water in the River Carron continues to rise
  • In Braunton, Devon, many homes and shops are under water after the River Caen burst its banks. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said its teams were distributing sandbags to protect properties and evacuate residents from houseboats at Velator Quay.
In nearby Exeter resident Dan Regan told the BBC that flood barriers had been put up near his house.
"I've never seen them deployed here before and my neighbours, who have been here for 30 years, have never seen it either. I've never seen anything like the flooding we've had over the last month or so," he said.
A plastic dam has been placed across the railway line at Exeter to minimise flood damage. Steve Hawkins, from Network Rail, explained: "The last time it flooded we lost the railway for two or three days but we lost the signalling equipment, so we had restricted working, for two or three weeks.
"The idea of this is that we intend to try to protect the signalling equipment further down the track to make sure we can get the railway back up and working normally for our passengers sooner."