Fresh rain raises UK flood fears

Written By Unknown on Senin, 24 Desember 2012 | 19.21

24 December 2012 Last updated at 06:21 ET
Flooded railway

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Exeter rail passenger: "I'm just trying to get home for Christmas"

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.

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.

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.

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Travel and weather information

From the BBC:

Elsewhere:

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".

The closed section of line is not expected to reopen until Friday.

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.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued about 130 flood warnings and more than 250 flood alerts for all regions in England and in Wales, with most in place across the Midlands and south-west England.

'Not welcome news'

In Scotland, 19 flood warnings are in place affecting Aberdeenshire, Caithness and Sutherland, Dundee and Angus, Tayside and the Borders.

David Rooke, the EA's head of flood and coastal risk management, urged people not to enter floodwater.

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'Coming home to no home'

Athol Innes, a Stonehaven resident working for an oil company in China, contacted the BBC News website:

"My house is totally flooded, sewage and oil. Gutted. It's still to hit me really.

"I am only getting information through the local Stonehaven Facebook page and the BBC Scottish news as I am working in China for a oil company and can't get flights till Thursday."

He is "worried as I have no accommodation to go home to. My house is in a terrible condition with the water and mud. The whole house, including the garden, is just ruined.

"It's still to hit me really. I have a friend that looks after my house when I am away on business, he only got access after 1pm yesterday and told me the sad news that my home is ruined.

"(He) keeps an eye out for any flood warnings and places sandbags against the doors when required; these failed.

"I am having to stay at the local hotel in Stonehaven when I arrive back in the UK at 1030pm on Thursday.

"Just can't believe this has happened. It's now the case of dealing with the insurance companies now and having all that added stress...

"It's coming home to no home that's hard-hitting."

"Time and again we're seeing cars being swept away and people in all sorts of difficulties," he said.

"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."

BBC forecaster Laura Gilchrist said the fresh band of rain was not "welcome news" for flood-hit areas of the UK.

"The ground in many places is already saturated, and any rain will not help situations of flooding," she said.

On Sunday, up to 100 homes were evacuated in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, 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.

In Stoke Canon, near Exeter, 30 properties have flooded, with at least 20 residents being moved to safety, after the River Exe burst its banks.

The BBC News website has been contacted by Stonehaven resident Athol Innes, who is currently working out in China and has learned via the internet that flooding has devastated his home.

"It's still to hit me really," he wrote. "[I'm] worried as I have no accommodation to go home to. My house is in a terrible condition with the water and mud. The whole house, including the garden, is just ruined."

UK flooding minister Richard Benyon said on Sunday: "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."

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UK forecast for 24/12/2012

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