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Flood fears heightened by new downpours Flood fears heightened by new downpours
(35 minutes later)
Rain has returned to south-west England, bringing a renewed flood risk to areas already saturated by heavy downpours.Rain has returned to south-west England, bringing a renewed flood risk to areas already saturated by heavy downpours.
Forecasters predict the rain will sweep across England and Wales to Scotland, where it could be heavy and prolonged.Forecasters predict the rain will sweep across England and Wales to Scotland, where it could be heavy and prolonged.
There is major disruption to trains in south-west England.There is major disruption to trains in south-west England.
Operator First Great Western is advising customers not to attempt to travel west of Taunton in either direction.Operator First Great Western is advising customers not to attempt to travel west of Taunton in either direction.
It says trains are unable to operate between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids, and between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot.It says trains are unable to operate between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids, and between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot.
Services from London Paddington towards Exeter and the West of England are terminating at Tiverton, with limited road transport continuing to Newton Abbot via Exeter St Davids.Services from London Paddington towards Exeter and the West of England are terminating at Tiverton, with limited road transport continuing to Newton Abbot via Exeter St Davids.
Services from Penzance and Plymouth, towards Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington, are terminating at Newton Abbot, again with limited road transport on to Tiverton via Exeter.Services from Penzance and Plymouth, towards Bristol Temple Meads and London Paddington, are terminating at Newton Abbot, again with limited road transport on to Tiverton via Exeter.
It says the road replacement service is limited "as this is being hampered by flooded roads and only a reduced number of vehicles being available".It says the road replacement service is limited "as this is being hampered by flooded roads and only a reduced number of vehicles being available".
The closed section of line is not expected to reopen until Friday.The closed section of line is not expected to reopen until Friday.
One passenger at Exeter station told BBC News: "I'm just trying to get home for Christmas - last-minute journey home and this is the start of the journey - it's not gone too well so far.
"I've got to get a bus in 10 minutes to Tiverton and then try to get to London Paddington and eventually down back to Kent, where I'm from."
There are delays to journeys between London and south Wales, with a diversion to avoid flooding at Swindon adding about 45 minutes to travel times.There are delays to journeys between London and south Wales, with a diversion to avoid flooding at Swindon adding about 45 minutes to travel times.
Flooding Minister Richard Benyon told BBC Radio 4's The World At One: "I'm really impressed with the way the emergency services, the Environment Agency, the local authorities are working together, and humbled by the incredible community spirit in places like Braunton (in Devon).
"There are going to be houses flooded in the future, we have just got to be better at warning people, we have got to be smarter at how we build defences (and) what defences we build.
"Government is doing a lot better, we have always got to learn from every single flood and realise it's the most miserable experience for people to have their homes flooded, and it's very damaging to the economy as well," he added.
Professor David Balmforth, a flooding specialist at the Institution of Civil Engineers, told the programme: "We know in the future global warming will make the sorts of flood events we have seen here become much more frequent and much more severe so some of the older (flood) defences which might have been fit for purpose at the time may not be quite so effective in the present day."
'Not welcome news''Not welcome news'
BBC forecaster Laura Gilchrist said: "The ground in many places is already saturated, and any rain will not help situations of flooding."
The Environment Agency has issued about 130 flood warnings and more than 240 flood alerts for all regions in England and in Wales, with most in place across the Midlands and south-west England.The Environment Agency has issued about 130 flood warnings and more than 240 flood alerts for all regions in England and in Wales, with most in place across the Midlands and south-west England.
In Scotland, 19 flood warnings are in place affecting Aberdeenshire, Caithness and Sutherland, Dundee and Angus, Tayside and the Borders.In Scotland, 19 flood warnings are in place affecting Aberdeenshire, Caithness and Sutherland, Dundee and Angus, Tayside and the Borders.
David Rooke, the agency's head of flood and coastal risk management, urged people not to enter floodwater. Environment Agency director of operations David Jordan said: "Flooding is devastating at any time of year, but it is particularly hard at Christmas time, and our thoughts are with those who will be out of their homes over the festive period.
"Time and again we're seeing cars being swept away and people in all sorts of difficulties," he said. "Although the rain is set to ease a little in the coming days, the ground is still very wet and river levels remain high, so we would ask people to keep up to date with the latest warnings and stay prepared for flooding."
"It only needs 2ft of water to float the car away. And it only needs 6in of fast flowing water to knock you off your feet." He also reminded people not to walk or drive through floodwater.
Up to 30mm of rain is expected on Monday in south-west England, where some 26 of the flood warnings are in place. There are 70 flood warnings in place for the Midlands.Up to 30mm of rain is expected on Monday in south-west England, where some 26 of the flood warnings are in place. There are 70 flood warnings in place for the Midlands.
The Environment Agency has removed the severe flood warning for the River Cober at Helston in Cornwall.The Environment Agency has removed the severe flood warning for the River Cober at Helston in Cornwall.
Helston's mayor Jonathan Radford-Gaby welcomed the warning being downgraded: "It's a great relief to all of us that the emergency warning has been downgraded, but we do have a number of saturated fields coming in to Helston so... we have our fingers crossed and hope we can look forward to Christmas."Helston's mayor Jonathan Radford-Gaby welcomed the warning being downgraded: "It's a great relief to all of us that the emergency warning has been downgraded, but we do have a number of saturated fields coming in to Helston so... we have our fingers crossed and hope we can look forward to Christmas."
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
To access more information, from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites.To access more information, from your mobile, visit the BBC Weather and BBC Travel News sites.
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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