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Flood disruption continues as more rain forecast Flood disruption continues as more rain forecast
(about 1 hour later)
Flooding and heavy rain are continuing to cause problems in south-west England and parts of Wales and Scotland.Flooding and heavy rain are continuing to cause problems in south-west England and parts of Wales and Scotland.
Overnight, a woman was found clinging to a tree after she was swept away from her car near Barnstaple, north Devon.Overnight, a woman was found clinging to a tree after she was swept away from her car near Barnstaple, north Devon.
One severe flood warning remains in place in Cornwall and nearly 190 flood warnings in England and Wales. One severe flood warning remains in place in Cornwall and around 180 flood warnings in England and Wales.
Scotland has >18 flood alerts and 28 flood warnings, mainly for Perthshire, Tayside and Angus. There are reports of flooding in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen. Scotland has >17 flood warnings, mainly for Perthshire, Tayside and Angus. There is significant flooding in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.
And there are fears for for Brecon, Arbroath and Angus. Some rail services are still severely disrupted by the weather, with First Great Western advising people not to make non-essential train journeys to the West Country.
Some rail services are still severely disrupted by the weather, with First Great Western advising people not to make non-essential train journeys in south-west England. The Environment Agency has flood warnings in place across all of its English regions - South West, South East, Anglian, Midlands, North West and North East, as well as Wales.
With more rain expected, rivers in the South West will struggle to cope, the Environment Agency warns.
It says there is a heightened flood risk across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Bristol, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West and East Sussex, North Yorkshire, south Wales, Ceredigion and Gwynedd.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Rail company First Great Western has advised customers with non-essential journeys in the South West not to attempt to travel on trains or replacement buses, because of flooding and poor road conditions.
  • Rail services continue to be suspended between Plymouth, Exeter St Davids and Taunton because of flooding. A plastic dam has been placed across the railway line at Exeter to minimise flood damage
  • Rail services in and out of south Wales have resumed, after being hit by "significant flooding"
    •
  • Heavy rain has caused two landslides in Looe, Cornwall, which have cut off the nearby the village of Hannafore
  • A woman was rescued from her car by passers-by after it was swept into a river in Llancarfan in the Vale of Glamorgan
  • Flood barriers have been put up in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, as water in the River Carron continues to rise
Further downpours on Christmas Eve may cause more flooding, with the South West badly hit, the BBC Weather Centre says.Further downpours on Christmas Eve may cause more flooding, with the South West badly hit, the BBC Weather Centre says.
BBC forecaster Holly Green said outbreaks of rain would be heaviest in Scotland on Sunday, with the rain returning to the south-west on Christmas Eve.BBC forecaster Holly Green said outbreaks of rain would be heaviest in Scotland on Sunday, with the rain returning to the south-west on Christmas Eve.
"Southern counties of England will also be plagued by some patchy rainfall [on Sunday], but elsewhere there is a bit of a respite from the wet weather."Southern counties of England will also be plagued by some patchy rainfall [on Sunday], but elsewhere there is a bit of a respite from the wet weather.
"This rain will be falling on saturated surfaces and will continue to bring a risk of flooding.""This rain will be falling on saturated surfaces and will continue to bring a risk of flooding."
She added that storm force winds for the Northern Isles and gales affecting Northern Ireland would transfer to parts of southern Scotland and northern England during Sunday morning.She added that storm force winds for the Northern Isles and gales affecting Northern Ireland would transfer to parts of southern Scotland and northern England during Sunday morning.
'Flashy rivers''Flashy rivers'
In Umberleigh, near Barnstaple in north Devon, a woman was swept away from her car in the early hours of Sunday after becoming stuck in fast-flowing flood water.In Umberleigh, near Barnstaple in north Devon, a woman was swept away from her car in the early hours of Sunday after becoming stuck in fast-flowing flood water.
A police helicopter found her clinging to branches of a tree on the banks of the swollen River Taw, and she was rescued by a RNLI lifeboat. She was treated for exposure to the water. A police helicopter found her clinging to branches of a tree - where she had been for 50 minutes - on the banks of the swollen River Taw, and she was rescued by a RNLI lifeboat. She was treated for exposure to the water.
A man and child who remained trapped in the car were rescued by firefighters wearing drysuits.A man and child who remained trapped in the car were rescued by firefighters wearing drysuits.
Four people and two dogs trapped in two flooded properties in Bishops Tawton, near Barnstaple, were also rescued overnight by a fire crew and RNLI in-shore boat.Four people and two dogs trapped in two flooded properties in Bishops Tawton, near Barnstaple, were also rescued overnight by a fire crew and RNLI in-shore boat.
Police have warned motorists not to use minor roads north of Barnstaple. In nearby Pilton, residents may have to be evacuated if floodwater from the River Yeo reaches their homes. Emergency accommodation is being provided at Pilton Community College, police said.Police have warned motorists not to use minor roads north of Barnstaple. In nearby Pilton, residents may have to be evacuated 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.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.
In the Cornish towns of Helston and Lostwithiel, fire crews remained overnight to respond to any further flooding incidents and tents have been issued to residents in Lostwithiel. In the Cornish towns of Helston and Lostwithiel, fire crews remained overnight to respond to any further flooding incidents.
The River Cober, which broke its banks resulting in devastating flooding on Saturday, has started to recede. But the Environment Agency still has a severe flood warning in force in the Helston area. The RNLI says it rescued 12 people, two dogs and six cats - using two lifeboats - in the town on Saturday evening.
About 120 properties in Cornwall were flooded on Saturday, many in Helston when the River Cober broke its banks.
The river has started to recede, but the Environment Agency still has a severe flood warning in force in the area and is using pumps to lower water levels.
Nick Ely from the agency said: "There is nowhere in Cornwall that can really cope with the rain that's coming.Nick Ely from the agency said: "There is nowhere in Cornwall that can really cope with the rain that's coming.
"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."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"."We also have these problems with the catchments being so wet, that our bigger rivers... are also filling up and rising very rapidly".
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