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UK prepares for further flooding as downpours continue UK prepares for further flooding as downpours continue
(about 1 hour later)
Rain-hit rivers in south-west England will struggle to cope with more rain, the Environment Agency has warned.Rain-hit rivers in south-west England will struggle to cope with more rain, the Environment Agency has warned.
One severe flood warning remains in place in Cornwall, with over 200 flood warnings in force in England and Wales.One severe flood warning remains in place in Cornwall, with over 200 flood warnings in force in England and Wales.
Police have warned motorists not to use minor roads north of Barnstaple in Devon, and tents have been issued to residents in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.Police have warned motorists not to use minor roads north of Barnstaple in Devon, and tents have been issued to residents in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.
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.
'Flashy rivers''Flashy rivers'
Fire crews remained in the Cornish towns of Helston and Lostwithiel overnight to respond to any further flooding incidents.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 on Saturday, has started to recede. But the Environment Agency still has a severe flood warning in force in the Helston area.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.
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.
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.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"."We also have these problems with the catchments being so wet, that our bigger rivers... are also filling up and rising very rapidly".
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.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.
Scotland has 18 flood alerts and 24 flood warnings. mainly for Aberdeenshire and Tayside.Scotland has 18 flood alerts and 24 flood warnings. mainly for Aberdeenshire and Tayside.
BBC forecaster Holly Green said outbreaks of rain will 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 will 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 will 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 will transfer to parts of southern Scotland and northern England during Sunday morning.
South-west England is at further risk of some flooding issues and disruption when the rain is due to return on Monday, she added.South-west England is at further risk of some flooding issues and disruption when the rain is due to return on Monday, she added.
Emergency suppliesEmergency supplies
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.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.
Joe Canon from the charity told the BBC they were also offering "good supplies of blankets, sleeping bags and general things that are needed".Joe Canon from the charity told the BBC they were also offering "good supplies of blankets, sleeping bags and general things that are needed".
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.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 if floodwater from the River Yeo reaches their homes. Emergency accommodation is being provided at Pilton Community College, police said.Residents in nearby Pilton 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 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, due to flooding and poor road conditions.
  • Rail services continue to be suspended between Plymouth, Exeter St Davids and Taunton due to flooding. Trains are also not able to run between Bristol Temple Meads, Western-super-Mare and Taunton.
  • 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
  • The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said its teams were distributing sandbags to protect properties and evacuate residents from houseboats at Velator Quay in Devon
  • 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, due to flooding and poor road conditions.
  • Rail services continue to be suspended between Plymouth, Exeter St Davids and Taunton due to flooding. Trains are also not able to run between Bristol Temple Meads, Western-super-Mare and Taunton.
  • 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
  • The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said its teams were distributing sandbags to protect properties and evacuate residents from houseboats at Velator Quay in Devon
In Exeter, resident Dan Regan told the BBC that flood barriers had been put up near his house.In 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."
Are you in south-west England? Are you affected by the flooding? Please fill in the form below if you are willing to be interviewed on the BBC. Are you affected by the flooding? Are you in south-west England or Wales? Please fill in the form below if you are willing to be interviewed on the BBC.
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