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More rain set to exacerbate flood disruption More rain set to exacerbate flood disruption
(35 minutes 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.
One severe flood warning remains in Cornwall, and there are about 150 flood warnings in England and Wales, and about 30 in Scotland.One severe flood warning remains in Cornwall, and there are about 150 flood warnings in England and Wales, and about 30 in Scotland.
Houses have been flooded and evacuated in Stoke Canon, near Exeter, and Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.Houses have been flooded and evacuated in Stoke Canon, near Exeter, and Stonehaven, near Aberdeen.
Rail services in the south-west of England and between Dundee and Aberdeen have been hit by floods and landslips.Rail services in the south-west of England and between Dundee and Aberdeen have been hit by floods and landslips.
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.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.
Up to 100 homes were evacuated in Stonehaven after the River Carron burst its banks and affected a number of streets in the centre of the town. Residents said water levels were waist-high.Up to 100 homes were evacuated in Stonehaven after the River Carron burst its banks and affected a number of streets in the centre of the town. Residents said water levels were waist-high.
"A significant part of the town has still got water in it and in the part that hasn't, there's a whole lot of mud and debris on the street," said David Fleming, a member of the local community council."A significant part of the town has still got water in it and in the part that hasn't, there's a whole lot of mud and debris on the street," said David Fleming, a member of the local community council.
Scotland's environment minister Paul Wheelhouse said public safety was his top priority and added: "People planning journeys home for Christmas can check on how their journeys may be affected through a range of resources, including the Traffic Scotland website and Sepa's floodline phone service." Scotland's environment minister Paul Wheelhouse said public safety was his priority and added: "People planning journeys home for Christmas can check on how their journeys may be affected through a range of resources, including the Traffic Scotland website and Sepa's floodline phone service."
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Trains are not running between Taunton, in Somerset, and Exeter, in Devon, because the line is flooded. There is a limited replacement bus service, but First Great Western is advising passengers not to travel west of Taunton in either direction unless their journey is essential
  • There is a limited train service between Cardiff Central and Bridgend after it was earlier suspended. The service between Machynlleth and Caersws remains suspended
  • There are no trains running between Dundee and Aberdeen due to a landslip
  • The Forth Road Bridge has been closed to high-sided vehicles because of high winds, while gusts of up to 70mph are expected on Shetland. Ferry services to the Northern Isles have been suspended due to the winds
  • In Brechin, Angus, residents in the River Street area have been placed on alert as the waters of the River South Esk continued to rise, threatening a repeat of the flooding experienced in October
  • In south Wales, four homes in Pontypridd were evacuated and one family, with a baby, escaped after heavy rain caused a wall to collapse, bringing tons of earth and rubble on to their house
  • Flooding in Berkshire caused Reading services on the westbound M4 to close and one lane of the westbound carriageway, causing long delays
In Stoke Canon, north of Exeter in Devon, 30 properties have flooded, with at least 20 residents being moved to safety, after the River Exe burst its banks.In Stoke Canon, north of Exeter in Devon, 30 properties have flooded, with at least 20 residents being moved to safety, after the River Exe burst its banks.
Steve Hawkins, from Network Rail, said the track at Cowley Bridge, north of Exeter, was last flooded 12 years ago but he added: "Unfortunately in the last four weeks it has happened three times."Steve Hawkins, from Network Rail, said the track at Cowley Bridge, north of Exeter, was last flooded 12 years ago but he added: "Unfortunately in the last four weeks it has happened three times."
'Especially distressing''Especially distressing'
Mr Hawkins said the railway line could be repaired only when the floodwaters had receded, and he said it could take up to five days to repair.Mr Hawkins said the railway line could be repaired only when the floodwaters had receded, and he said it could take up to five days to repair.
BBC forecaster Matt Taylor said: "Heavy rain in the north of Scotland will slowly ease and wetter weather will return to central and southern parts of England and Wales overnight, bringing with it the threat of further flooding particularly in parts of Devon and Cornwall."BBC forecaster Matt Taylor said: "Heavy rain in the north of Scotland will slowly ease and wetter weather will return to central and southern parts of England and Wales overnight, bringing with it the threat of further flooding particularly in parts of Devon and Cornwall."
Flooding minister Richard Benyon said: "It's terrible to have your home or business flooded at any time of year, but for the families affected it's especially distressing for it to happen during the Christmas season. UK flooding minister Richard Benyon said: "It's terrible to have your home or business flooded at any time of year, but for the families affected it's especially distressing for it to happen during the Christmas season.
"It's crucial people continue to be vigilant by keeping a close eye on the Environment Agency's flood warnings and allowing the emergency services to do their work.""It's crucial people continue to be vigilant by keeping a close eye on the Environment Agency's flood warnings and allowing the emergency services to do their work."
'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 - 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 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.
The River Caen in Braunton breached its banks for a second night and the village is bracing itself for more flooding on Sunday night.The River Caen in Braunton breached its banks for a second night and the village is bracing itself for more flooding on Sunday night.
Diane Cohen, 63, who runs the Mariners Arms pub, said: "We have a mound of sodden carpet out in the garden and are now moving sand bags around so we can get people safely in and out during the course of the day and will sandbag up again tonight because we've got more bad weather coming in and the River Caen is going to flood again."Diane Cohen, 63, who runs the Mariners Arms pub, said: "We have a mound of sodden carpet out in the garden and are now moving sand bags around so we can get people safely in and out during the course of the day and will sandbag up again tonight because we've got more bad weather coming in and the River Caen is going to flood again."
Cornwall council says it is expecting another band of bad weather, bringing with it an estimated 10mm to 20mm of rain, from Sunday evening into the early hours of Monday.Cornwall council says it is expecting another band of bad weather, bringing with it an estimated 10mm to 20mm of rain, from Sunday evening into the early hours of Monday.
About 120 properties in Cornwall were flooded on Saturday, many in Helston when the River Cober broke its banks. The river Severn is also high but flood defences appear to have succeeded in Bewdley, Kempsey and Upton-upon-Severn.
The RNLI says it rescued 12 people, two dogs and six cats - using two lifeboats - in Lostwithiel on Saturday evening. The Environment Agency's area manager said: "Levels are high, and particularly high in Worcester, where it is probably the highest it's been since July 2007."
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. But he added: "I think the Severn is now as high as it's going to get."
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.
"We also have these problems with the catchments being so wet, that our bigger rivers... are also filling up and rising very rapidly".
Are you in south-west England or parts of Wales and Scotland affected by flooding? If you are willing to be interviewed on BBC TV and radio about your experiences please fill in the form below.Are you in south-west England or parts of Wales and Scotland affected by flooding? If you are willing to be interviewed on BBC TV and radio about your experiences please fill in the form below.
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