Regions braced for more flood havoc

Dec 20 2012

Parts of the UK are braced for threatened further flooding as successive bands of heavy rain move across the country.

The Environment Agency (EA) said large swathes of southern and south-western England, south-east Wales and the Midlands were potentially under threat.

Flood warnings, which suggest flooding is expected, are in place in the South West, the South East and East Anglia, the EA said.

River levels on the River Cober in Helston, Cornwall, are high after persistent rain on Wednesday, while the Dolphins River Park in Charmouth, west Dorset, is under threat from the River Char. The River Wey in Weymouth, Dorset, is rising, the EA said, and the Somerset Levels also face risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall of up to 20mm over last night on already saturated ground.

Forecasters said the heavy rain would ease off in the South West later and it would be dry on Friday, but warned the weather across the whole country is likely to remain unsettled for up to seven days.

Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "There will be persistent rain across most of the UK today, though in the South West it will turn drier in the afternoon with the odd shower. (On Friday) it will largely be dry in the South West, but by the evening the next band of rain will move in. That will stay throughout the weekend and into next week."

Areas of England and Wales were last month engulfed by flood water that surged through streets and down roads, cutting off whole communities and forcing dozens to flee their homes. Rivers burst their banks and fields were flooded as several days' rain fell in just a few hours.

With the possibility of more flooding on the way, people are being urged to keep up to date with the latest information from the EA's website, sign up to free flood warnings, check their route for disruption before travelling, and not to drive or walk through floodwater.

Craig Woolhouse, flood risk manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Our teams are out around the clock to minimise the risks and prepare for flooding, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that flood defences are working properly. We urge people to keep up to date with the weather forecast and local news overnight and remain prepared for flooding in their area by signing up to receive free flood warnings and staying away from dangerous flood water."

Those in areas at risk should check the Environment Agency website for the latest information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood and sign up for free flood warnings on the Environment Agency's website, or by calling the Environment Agency Flood Line on 0845 988 1188.