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UK prepares for further flooding as downpours continue UK prepares for further flooding as downpours continue
(about 1 hour later)
Much of the UK is braced for further flooding caused by heavy rain, which is forecast to continue into Sunday. Rain-hit rivers in south-west England will struggle to cope with more heavy rain, the Environment Agency says.
The Environment Agency has six severe flood warnings in place for south west England and nearly 200 flood warnings for England and Wales. Six severe flood warnings are in place for the west country and nearly 200 flood warnings for other parts of England and Wales.
In north Devon, police have warned that all minor roads north of Barnstaple may be flooded. In Devon, police have told drivers to avoid all minor roads north of Barnstaple due to extensive flooding.
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.
Fire crews remained in the Cornish towns of Helston and Lostwithiel overnight to respond to any further flooding incidents.
The River Cober, which broke its banks resulting in devastating flooding yesterday, is starting to recede. But the Environment Agency has warned the area around Helston is not out of danger yet.
Nick Ely from the agency said: "There is nowhere in Cornwall that can really cope with the rain that's coming.
He went on: "Wherever the rain falls, the rivers will respond quickly. We have problems with 'flashy' rivers in Cornwall... where the rivers respond very rapidly with lots of run-off.
"We also have these problems with the catchments being so wet, that our bigger rivers... are also filling up and rising very rapidly".
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 has said there is 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. In Lostwithiel, Cornish disaster relief agency Shelterbox, which was recently delivering aid to Syria, is providing tents to residents who have been forced to leave their homes.
"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." Joe Canon from the charity told the BBC they were also offering "good supplies of blankets, sleeping bags and general things that are needed".
The Met Office has issued amber rain warnings for much of Scotland, parts of Yorkshire, Wales and southern England. He added: "Our expertise in dealing with shelter requirements makes us good coordinators. That's the role we see for us in the coming days."
Further west in Devon, police have warning the public not to travel on minor roads north of Barnstaple, which are closed due to extensive flooding.
Residents in nearby Pilton may have to be evacuated overnight if floodwater from the River Yeo reaches their homes. Emergency accommodation is being provided at Pilton Community College, police said.
The River Caen in Braunton has also breached its banks for a second night, and police said the Braunton Academy has been opened as an evacuation assembly point.
On Saturday, rail company First Great Western advised "customers with non-essential travel to not attempt to travel West of Taunton in either direction".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 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.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."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.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.""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."