Floods: storms and weather as it happened

A 'multi-pronged' attack of rain, wind and snow is on its way to the UK as Surrey, Berkshire and Somerset still face severe flood warnings

An overturned lorry on the A640 heading towards Oldham
An overturned lorry on the A640 heading towards Oldham Credit: Photo: ROSS PARRY

Telegraph coverage of the storms will continue tomorrow morning

21.30 Here's an image showing extensive floods in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, captured by a Tornado GR4 equipped with Raptor - Reconnaissance Air Pod for Tornado - from RAF Marham in Norfolk. The base have captured aerial images of the floods in a bid to help aid efforts in the worst-hit areas.

extensive floods in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire,

MoD

21.21 The National Trust says it is closely monitoring Birling Gap in Sussex after coastal erosion has claimed three metres of the clifftop during the storms this winter.

Some of the cliff-face near Seaford, East Sussex, part of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, fell into the sea after a tidal storm.

This amount of erosion claimed by the sea normally takes four years, showing the extent of damage caused by the storms over the last few months. Normally the cliffs erode at the rate of just 2 foot (0.7m) a year.

It has meant the cliff-face has dramatically changed shape over the course of just a few weeks.

21.12 The Environment Agency has issued advice about what to do and what to avoid during the floods here.

20.45 Traffic was seen on the Worcester bypass amidst the chaos after the River Severn burst its banks.

Traffic snakes its way over the flood water on the Worcester bypass after the river Severn burst its banks

Air Experiences / Newsteam

20.09 A Royal Air Force Tornado jet has captured aerial images of the floods in a bid to help recovery efforts in the areas of the UK worst hit by the storms.

The deployment of the Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham in Norfolk has produced detailed images which it is hoped will assist the planning and co-ordination of relief efforts.

 extensive floods in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire.

An Electro-Optical (EO) image from a Raptor reconnaisance pod fitted to a RAF Tornado GR4 aircraft of extensive floods in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire (RAF/MoD/SWNS)

The plane took to the skies after a request by Gold commanders in the Thames Valley.

The aircraft, operated by the RAF's 31 Squadron, is equipped with the highly versatile Raptor - Reconnaissance Air Pod for Tornado - which enables it to gather sophisticated, high-resolution imagery.

The imagery, now being processed and evaluated by analysts at RAF Marham, will be passed to civilian authorities for their use.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said: "With thousands of military personnel already playing their part in efforts to help flood-affected communities, the RAF is now delivering this additional and highly specialist support.

"This Tornado-borne surveillance capability is very much proven in a combat role in Afghanistan but its versatility is underlined by its use today, here at home, to support ongoing flood relief efforts.

"As the Prime Minister has made clear, whatever assets we have at our disposal that can make a difference, we will use them."

The Tornado aircraft and Raptor has been used in many military operations and is currently in use over Afghanistan.

It was selected for this task as it can rapidly scan and capture a huge area of interest in just one sortie - in this case areas in need of flood relief work.

Wing Commander Neil Tomlin, acting station commander, said: "The Tornado GR4 is a multi-role aircraft with a highly effective reconnaissance capability. It is used to great effect on current operations in Afghanistan, but its capability is not confined to purely operational roles.

"The sortie launched today demonstrates the versatility of both the aircraft and its reconnaissance systems and of the men and women who support those operations.

"It is hoped that the imagery provided by our Raptor reconnaissance system will provide valuable assistance in supporting the flood relief efforts currently under way in the South of England."

19.26 The Met Office has warned Britons to brace themselves for more storms as it has forecast a "multi-pronged attack" of wind, rain and snow on Friday.

Downpours of up to 1.6 inches (40mm) could fall in just six hours, with gusts of up to 70mph, bringing more misery to victims of the storms.

More than 50,000 households still remain without power after gales as strong as 108mph battered Britain on Wednesday.

Trees fallen on houses in Chorlton a suburb of Manchester.

Trees fallen on houses in Chorlton a suburb of Manchester. (Eamonn and James Clarke)

19.20 Independent advisers for the Government have said extra funds for the flood relief effort will not help address the long term risks of flooding in the UK.

Ministers said overall £344 million will be spent on initiatives to improve flood defences this year which will ensure that 165,000 homes are better protected by 2015, after an extra £130 million was added to help with flooding.

But the Committee on Climate Change said only a proportion of these households will actually see their flood risk reduce.

A blog post on the Committee's website states: "Many capital schemes are replacing or refurbishing existing defences like-with-like. With climate change these households will be less well protected than when their defences were originally built, perhaps some decades ago. As it is, only 4% of households at flood risk in England are seeing their defences refurbished or improved over this period.

"So the additional funding won't materially address the rising long-term flood risk given the latest assessment of the investment need.

"As we have previously stated, by 2015 we are on course to spend half a billion pounds less on flood and coastal defence over this Parliament than the amount needed to avoid more homes becoming at significant risk over time. This remains the case."

David Cameron, the prime minister, has previously said "money is no object in this relief effort".

The blog also addresses job losses at the Environment Agency, and said 800 flood risk management staff have already been shed following the budget cuts in 2010.

It added: "A further 1,500 jobs are expected to be lost across the Environment Agency by October this year. It is not yet clear what the cumulative impact will be on the Environment Agency's ability to manage flood risk and respond to future events."

19.11 Two high-volume pumps imported from the Netherlands have started work to try and reduce the water levels on the flooded Somerset Levels.

The Dutch equipment has been installed at Dunball, north of Bridgwater, to pump water from the most saturated parts of the Levels into the River Perrett and out to sea.

Van Heck Dutch pumps are installed at Dunball Sluice, Bridgwater

Van Heck Dutch pumps are installed at Dunball Sluice, Bridgwater, to aid with the flooding pumping operation on the Somerset Levels (SWNS)

The Environment Agency said the scheme would reduce the flood risk in the villages of Northmoor and Saltmoor by reducing the water levels on the River Tone.

Some parts of the Levels have been flooded since Christmas and the rising water has caused dozens of homes to flood, roads closed, villages cut off and disrupted rail services.

There are currently 96 pumps in place at the Somerset Levels, with enough water being removed from the land a day to fill Wembley Stadium three times over.

Campaigners in Somerset have accused the Environment Agency of sacrificing villages to prevent the flood water reaching Bridgwater.

The agency has constructed a temporary earth bank between the villages of Moorland and Huntworth to try to hold water back from the town, where around 1,000 homes on the outskirts are at risk of flooding.

Residents in the village of Westonzoyland fear their homes could be flooded because water is being pumped into the King's Sedgemoor Drain relief channel close to their properties in order to protect Bridgwater.

"There has been some concern raised about a number of locations in that relief channel, such as Aller Drove and Westonzoyland," Jim Flory, area environment manager, said.

"The key thing to emphasise by releasing water from the River Parrett into the River Sowy is a controlled process and we do it by opening and shutting the sluice gates.

"We will be gradually opening it very incrementally and very carefully monitor it to make sure that the additional pumps we have put in are bringing the water through and not causing additional problems elsewhere."

18.51

An overturned lorry on the A640 heading towards Oldham

An overturned lorry on the A640 heading towards Oldham (ROSS PARRY)

18.31 Roger Hayward was killed after he was electrocuted while trying to move a tree felled by the storms in Wiltshire on Wednesday.

Roger Hayward, 71, who was electrocuted whilst trying to move a tree off a road in Bremhill near Calne

SWNS

A statement from his family said: "We would like to express our deep gratitude for the kind messages of condolence, love and support from friends and neighbours in Chippenham, Calne and beyond.

"We are all shocked and deeply saddened with the passing of our dearest dad, husband, granddad and friend to many, Roger Hayward.

"To those that knew him, Roger was a larger-than-life character, a friend and helping hand to many and any that needed help. There are many stories of this, covering not just Wiltshire but on occasions when on holiday too.

"Roger was one of life's workers on his farm, never missed a day off in his life doing what he enjoyed to the end, helping others.

"We would be grateful to remain private in our grief whilst we come to terms with our loss."

18.13 As Britain is braced for more storms, a map has been created by MagicSeaweed.com and shows the predicted swell on Friday at 9pm as another storm heads towards the west coast.

This map from MagicSeaweed.com shows the predicted swell on Friday at 9pm

18.04 Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, has announced a £250,000 grant for Citizens Advice to give people support who have been hit by the floods.

Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister

GETTY

Mr Clegg said: "When I have spoken to people who are coping with these terrible floods, they tell me that one of the most helpful things for them would be a single place where they could get advice on the whole range of support available to them, from insurance claims to getting time off work.

"There is nobody better to provide this than Citizens Advice, and I am very pleased they have agreed to team up with the Government to provide much-needed support across the country in this time of need.

"The volunteers will go right into the heart of flood-hit communities, doing whatever it takes to provide the valuable advice and support during this difficult time."

The money will be used for outreach work to boost the numbers of Citizens Advice volunteers in flood-hit areas, helping on issues such as finding temporary accommodation for those forced out of their homes or assisting with insurance claims.

Gillian Guy, chief executive at Citizens Advice, said: "People bearing the brunt of flood damage need responsive, tailored support and I'm pleased government has recognised that Citizens Advice Bureaux are well-placed to deliver this help to shell-shocked communities.

"Even after the water recedes, the impact of flooding can last for years. In the next few weeks we'll deliver help to affected households to ensure they have the everyday essentials. In the coming months and years we'll work with colleagues in government, the insurance industry, local authorities and community groups to help people put their lives back together."

17.42 Personnel from the armed forces continue to provide support to people affected by flooding and gales from the storms.

17.36 A couple had to be rescued by fire crews after they got stuck in their car in floodwater in Sutton Mallet, Stawell, Somerset.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service were called to Moor Road at 11.29 this morning and reached the car using wading poles.

Paul Fuller, president of the Chief Fire Officers Association, visited flood-hit areas of Somerset.

Mr Fuller said: "The valiant efforts of fire crews in Devon, Somerset and other services across the country, who have been working tirelessly to help those affected by flooding should be recognised and applauded."

"In the face of exceptionally poor weather conditions, they have provided invaluable assistance to people whose lives and livelihood are under threat."

A total of 20 fire services are sending help to the area, with some travelling from as far as West Yorkshire.

16.58 More than 2,000 personnel from the army, navy and RAF have been drafted in across the country to help deal with the impact of the storms.

In the Thames Valley area, around 100 troops from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are in Wraysbury, Berkshire, while more than 300 are in Windsor, Datchet and Chertsey in Surrey.

In Reading, more than 30 people from 9 Transport Logistics Regiment are building a sandbag wall at Southcote Mill.

And in Surrey, more than 360 military personnel from 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh and people from both 19 and 47 Regiment Royal Artillery have been helping with the relief effort.

"Other key military taskings over the last 24 hours have included completion of a sandbag wall to help defend Desborough Island, deploying a flood barrier at Chertsey Bridge Road and the ongoing assessment and protection of Critical National Infrastructure assets," a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said.

In the Somerset Levels around 100 Royal Marines are continuing to move and refill sandbags as well as move pumps to try and remove some of the water in acres of waterlogged land.

16.42 The Met Office has said Britain should expect a reprieve this weekend, after a storm on Friday evening has passed.

Sally Davies, of the Met Office, said: "We need to get through the next 24, 48 hours. As we go into next week it will be more normal winter weather."

16.40 Road and rail travellers are facing a troubled journeys home after another day of flooded roads and delayed and cancelled train services.

The disruption reached all parts of the country, with fallen trees and broken-down vehicles adding to the problems on the roads.

Drivers tonight were having to contend with two-hour delays northbound on the M40 in Oxfordshire after an accident, while many rail services continued to be disrupted by the seemingly never-ending bad weather.

16.35 The National Trust says it is closely monitoring Birling Gap after coastal erosion has claimed three metres of the clifftop during the storms this winter.

Some of the cliff-face near Seaford, East Sussex, part of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, fell into the sea after a tidal storm.

This amount of erosion claimed by the sea normally takes four years, showing the extent of damage caused by the storms over the last few months. Normally the cliffs erode at the rate of just 2foot (0.7m) a year.

It has meant the cliff-face has dramatically changed shape over the course of just a few weeks. Access to the café and shop at Birling Gap has been fenced off and barriers have been put up along the cliff edge to protect walkers.

16.25 56,000 homes are still without power after yesterday's storm and that it was unclear when they will have their electricity restored, Tony Glover of the Energy Networks Association has confirmed.

"We are hoping practically everybody will be restored," he said.

"We are working very hard to get people back on in very, very difficult circumstances."

A total of 458,000 homes are thought to have suffered power cuts in last nights storms.

16.20 An incredible relief centre is now operating from a church hall in Egham, Berkshire, Claire Duffin reports.

Dozens of volunteers are sorting food parcels while scores more are filling sandbags.

The group, called the Egham Hythe and Pooley Green Flood Relief, also has a mobile phone number which people can call to request deliveries of food and sandbags.

The Army is then delivering the supplies to those whose homes are still flooded. They are also delivering bottled water to residents who were concerned about drinking from the taps.

Much of the sand has been donated by the Khalsa Aid, the Sikh international relief organisation.

Malcolm Leverett, 55, from Egham, who was helping fill sandbags on Thursday, said: "The guys here from the Sikh community have been helping out all day. They have been supplying sand.

"Most of the other people here are local people who have decided that the only way we are going to get sandbags is to come out and fill them up themselves to distribute in the local area."

16.15 Soaked Britain has seen the largest deployment of fire and rescue services since the Second World War.

The Government's chief fire and rescue adviser Peter Holland said that 70% of the fire and rescue services in England and Wales were now involved in the flood relief effort.

The news comes as the Environment Agency warned that hundreds of properties remain at risk of flooding.

With the Met Office warning of more heavy rain and high winds with gusts of up to 80mph, the EA said it could be weeks for inundated communities to get back to normal.

"I expect we will see hundreds of properties looking to flood," EA programme director Toby Willison told a Whitehall press briefing.

16.00 Labour leader Ed Miliband has called on the Government to turn "warm words into action" and help communities devestated by flooding.

Speaking on a visit to parts of Exeter effected by flooding, he said: "We need the Government to turn warm words into real action - from the provision of sandbags to getting our transport infrastructure up and running, to having the necessary investment we need in flood defence.

"The Prime Minister made big promises this week, now he's got to deliver on them.

"The problem has been that the Government has been too slow and inconsistent in its response.

"We've seen another example of that today. Families shouldn't have to pay for sandbags but the Government seems in utter chaos and confusion about this issue.

"The Prime Minister has got to do better. He's got to make sure his Government starts speaking with a single voice and he's frankly got to get a grip on the way his Government is handling this situation.

"For families who are facing the distress of flooding, who are worried about whether they are going to be driven out of their homes, to be charged for the sandbags is an insult.

"David Cameron needs to make that clear to councils across the country and he needs to get a grip on the Government machine so that the message is coordinated and communicated in a clear way."

15.53 Prime Minister David Cameron has chaired the first meeting of a new Cabinet committee set up to coordinate long-term plans on flood recovery and resilience.

The committee agreed to review the Bellwin scheme, look at the resilience of the transport network to extreme weather, and review the investment guidelines on flood defences, which have come under fire for being too strict to provide needed protection.

Mr Cameron said that, while the country was in the grip of the severe weather, it remained the Government's immediate priority to do all it could to help affected local communities and coordinate the emergency response.

"We are doing everything we can to help people and businesses deal with the flooding and get back on their feet. And through this new Cabinet committee we are doing all we can to ensure resilience in the future," he said.

15.45 Although today has been a quiet day for many, Windsor, Maidenhead and communities along the Thames in Surrey remain at high risk of flooding today and Friday, with significant flooding of homes and businesses expected.

The Thames has recorded some of its highest levels for 60 years, the Environment Agency said, and while water levels may fall today they are expected to rise again on the Thames and Severn, affecting places already experiencing flooding.

Flooding continues on the Somerset Levels and Moors, and there is still a high risk of coastal floods in Dorset.

Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster said: "We are continuing to see the very real and devastating impacts that flooding can have on communities and businesses. We know the distress that flooding can cause and are doing everything we can to reduce the impacts.

"Some communities will see a brief respite today, but unfortunately the risk of flooding will continue. We ask people to remain vigilant and take action where necessary.

"We expect to see river levels rising again with more rain forecast for Friday and Saturday."

In Winchester, Hampshire, Environment Agency teams have been creating a temporary flood storage area to cope with water levels on the River Itchen.

15.38 A young mother has told how the morning run to take her children to school nearly ended in tragedy when a huge sink hole opened in her driveway.

Sarah Jenkins was revsersing her Mercedes with her three children in the passenger seats to take them to St Andrew's School in Pangbourne, where the Duchess of Cambridge was educated, when an 8ft crater opened outside their home in Upper Basildon, Berkshire,.

Mrs Jenkins, who's lived at the house with husband Vaughan since it was built 12 years ago, said "The back of the car just disappeared and I panicked. We were teetering on the edge of this huge hole.

"At first I thought I had hit something, so I turned round in my seat and saw the kids sitting at an angle.

"We all jumped out of the car and I called the police. All I was doing was making my way to school with the kids as usual."

Police sealed off the driveway because of fears that the ground collapse had fractured a gas main, but Southern Gas checked the pipes and confirmed there was no leak.

Thames Valley Police said the hole was about 8ft wide and 8ft deep and the back end of the car had sunk into it.

A spokesman said the occupants of the two nearest houses have been advised to move out while a structural engineer assesses the situation.

15.29 Guardian reporter Robert Booth has tweeted this picture of the crypt of Winchester Cathedral

Flooded Winchester Cathedral with Gormley sculture in

(Robert Booth)

15.09 Sam Marsden is still monitoring the situation on the ground in Worcester, where hundreds of soldiers have been sent to help people affected by flooding along the River Severn. He reports:

About 250 members of 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, based near Market Drayton in Shropshire, have been allocated to assist with tasks such as building sandbag defences and visiting vulnerable people cut off by floodwater in Worcester and the surrounding area.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency said the Severn appeared to have reached its peak in Worcester, although it is likely to remain very high for several days.

The river's level in the Diglis area of the city is thought to be the third or fourth highest on record, although it is still about 50cm (1ft 8ins) lower than the point it reached during the floods of 1947.

Dave Throup, the agency's manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "It is stable now and it's just about turned over. I expect it to stay at more or less this level for 24 to 48 hours.

"I don't think the rainfall that is forecast is going to push it up a great deal.

"But the recession rate is going to be very slow. It will be quite a few days before we see a significant difference."

Mr Throup said about 40 properties had flooded in Worcester itself, as well as a further 30 in the rest of the county.

However, he noted that another 450 homes would have been inundated had it not been for the flood defences installed over recent years.

The focus is now shifting to communities further down the Severn, including Upton-on-Severn, Tewkesbury and Gloucester, which will be hit by the river's rising levels over the coming days.

Mr Throup said: "We're not expecting massive flooding, but we would expect some homes to be flooded and some roads to be affected."

15.00 The Met Office have now described tomorrow's weather as a "multi-pronged attack" of wind, rain and snow.

Forecaster Steven Keates said: ""After today's brief respite here we go again.

"By the start of Friday morning, the next band of heavy rain will move towards the south west and this is going to push its way northwards across much of the UK throughout Friday, it will reach Scotland by the evening.

"It's a multi-pronged attack. First of all the rain, we're looking widely at 15mm to 25mm across the southern half of the UK, with 30mm to 40mm expected in parts of the south west and south Wales.

"This could fall in a six-hour period so there is concern that it could well lead to some surface water flooding, but that could also have knock-on effects into the rivers systems as well.

"The weather warning has been upgraded to amber now for rain for south west England which are valid from 6am tomorrow morning to 2pm tomorrow afternoon.

"But there is a wider yellow warning across a good part of southern England and Mid and south Wales as well.

"As the rain trudges its way further north, it's going to encounter some quite cold air so then we get a snow risk developing."

He said the areas most at risk were the highlands of Wales, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

"We're looking at 5cm to 10cm above 300 metres and perhaps as much as 20cm above 400 metres," he said.

"Given the strong winds it is going to be pretty miserable tomorrow.

"There is a yellow warning out for strong winds across the south coast of England from Cornwall to Kent then up the eastern coast to Norfolk.

"It's a renewed risk of severe gales. In terms of wind strength there could be 60mph to 70mph gusts are quite possible along the coasts but not explicitly.

"Finally, with the strong winds along there shore there will be some big waves again. There is a risk of some localised coastal impacts, not helped by the fact that defences have been breached and damaged from previous events."

14.45 Photographs have been released from Britain's disaster monitoring satellite, the UK-DMC2, showing the devestation which has been caused to the Somerset Levels

Satellite images of the Somerset Levels

The Satellite composite images dated (left to right) 30/01/13, 09/12/13 and 08/02/14, have been issued by the UK Space Agency and show the bursting of the banks of the river Parrett and the flooding of the surrounding areas. The satellite UK-DMC2 which took the images isoperated by DMCii.

February 8 was the date when the UK activated the International Charter Space and Major Disasters - an international effort to task Earth Observation satellites to provide free data during natural emergencies.

Adina Gillespie, from DMCii, is the executive secretary for the UK in the charter.

She said: "We are providing ongoing support to the Environment Agency and Cabinet Office to facilitate access to the Disaster Monitoring Constellation as well as the satellites available to them through the charter."

14.36 The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have issued an interactive map showing residents which schools and roads are closed and where they can pick up sandbags.

14.29 David Cameron has now waded in to the sandbag row, insisting councils should not be charging residents in flood-hit areas for sandbags.

The Prime Minister said there was no need for town halls to recoup the costs because central government would cover
them.

Complaining that Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset has been charging, resident Steve Richards told the Bournemouth Echo: "My brother bought 50 at an incredibly high cost but 50 sandbags goes nowhere.

"We feel so helpless, pleading for help and no-one's giving it, yet you switch on the television and the Prime Minister is pledging that no-one will be left vulnerable and money's no object."

Up until the end of last week, Tewkesbury Borough Council was issuing free bags to local people - but asking them to pay for sand to go in them.

A spokeswoman said it had now decided to be "flexible" about the policy.

British army soldiers place sandbags at the entrance to a flooded house at Chertsey, England

British army soldiers place sandbags at the entrance to

a

flooded house at Chertsey yesterday (sang tan/ap)

14.10 Sandbags have been causing consternation across the country.

While there have been reports of them being stolen and sold on in some parts of the country, Christchurch Borough Council in Dorset has been asking locals to pay £30 for four sandbags.

A spokesperson said that they would provide them in an emergency situation, but could not hand them out to every concerned resident for free.

However, Brandon Lewis, the Local Government minister, said: "There is absolutely no reason for any councils to be charging residents for sandbags. Councils are able to claim any costs for their emergency response to flooding back from Government under the Bellwin scheme.”

Government sources said no council had reported any problems obtaining sandbags, and there were 25,000 filled and ready to be deployed.

Christchurch council said it had sold 29 "flood packs" - including four standard and one draught excluder-style sandbag - since Christmas.

The £30 price only covers the cost and there is no profit, a spokesman said.

13.55 David Cameron has hit back at critics who claim that the Government's response to flooding in the South West had been slow, when compared to its swifter reaction when the crisis hit the Thames valley.

"I don't accept that," the Prime Minister told BBC Radio Devon. "When the Somerset Levels flooded, we immediately called Cobra and the Government emergency planning response kicked in.

"When in Somerset they needed more pumps, I immediately got the Department of Local Government to release pumps from thier reserves. When the military was asked for, I sent the military in - some people said I had sent the military into Somerset too quickly, and when they first came it wasn't entirely clear what they were going to do.

"Other people can judge what is done and where, but I feel a very personal passion for the south west of our country.”

13.40 In the last couple of hours the Met Office have upgraded their weather warning for the South coast for Valentine's Day to an amber alert – the second highest alert level which warns people to be prepared.

The South West is now subject to an amber warning of wind and rain, predicting that the already deluged West Country will see up to 40mm of rain through Friday morning and gusts of up to 80mph.

The warning of wind extends right along the south coast.

But while the south coast will take the brunt of the weather again, most of the country has been issued with some form of weather warning for tomorrow.

Scotland and northern England have been warned to be prepared for snow, a warning which extends down into the East Midlands.

Wales has been issued with a yellow warning for both snow and rain, the East of England for wind and rain, and the West Midlands just for rain.

The Met Office’s Chief Forecaster said: “Yet another storm has developed to the west of the Azores. It will run northeastwards across western and northern parts of the UK during Friday and into Saturday, before clearing to the northeast.

“Around the southern flank of this storm very strong southerly or southwesterly winds are expected to develop, primarily affecting southern and southeastern counties of England. There remains some uncertainty in the track and timings of this system but gusts of 60-70 mph are possible with perhaps 80 mph along most exposed parts of the south coast. With these strong winds some large waves are also likely along the south coast and there is the potential for some coastal flooding where this coincides with high tides.”

13.22 Flood victims have hit out at so-called "grief capitalists" who have been selling stolen sandbags at huge profits to vulnerable people.

In some cases, the makeshift flood defence measure has been sold for four or five times the normal price.

One elderly woman is said to have paid £80 for a couple of bags, such was the desperation to protect her home.

The community of Egham in Surrey has been battling with rising flood waters ever since Sunday night.

But after having to wait for sand bags to be delivered, some woke up the following day to find they had been stolen - and being sold to their neighbours.

To compound the misery, thieves have also targeted properties vacated by reluctant homeowners as the stagnant water creeps over the threshold.

Police were called in yesterday to observe as several tonnes of sand were rationed out to hundreds of weary homeowners who waited for up to four hours in the rain.

Today the sand has been limited to no more than six bags per household - where yesterday others were filling recycling bins.

Mother-of-one Katie Hyman, 29, who has lived in the community all her life, described the looting as "disgusting".

She said: "How can you look at someone who is going through heartbreak and steal from them?

"How can you make money out of someone else who is suffering?”

13.11It seems that not everyone is angry with the response of the Environment Agency, as residents in Herefordshire and Worcestershire have set up a Twitter fan page for worker Dave Throup and have started a petition calling for him to be awarded an MBE.

The twitter page now has more than 1,000 followers.

Engineers continue to work at the scene of a 15ft hole which appeared on the M2 near Sittingbourne, Kent

Engineers continue to work at the scene of a 15ft hole which appeared on the M2 near Sittingbourne, Kent (PA)

13.04 Here are some of the fascinating statistics compiled by the Press Association about the floods -

  • Six - the number of inches of fast-flowing water that could knock a person off their feet. The Environment Agency (EA) has warned people to steer clear of flood water where possible.
  • 16 - the number of severe flood warnings - indicating danger to life - issued by the EA.
  • 23 - the number of days it rained in January.
  • 45 - the number of years since the UK saw a December this windy, according the the Met Office.
  • 60 - the number of years since the River Thames was this high.
  • 78.8 - the millimetres of rainfall recorded by MeteoGroup in the south east of England during the first 12 days of February, 380% of what would normally be expected.
  • 90.9 - the millimetres of rainfall in seen in the south west of England during the first 12 days of February - 328% of what would normally be expected, according to MeteoGroup.
  • 112 - the miles per hour of a gust of wind recorded by the Met Office at Great Dun Fell in the Pennines overnight.
  • 138 years since it was this this wet during December and January in England and Wales.
  • 183.8 - the millimetres of rainfall in January across the UK - 51% higher than the average for the first month of the year, said the Met Office.
  • 232 - The number of flood alerts issued by the EA. These flood alerts, which have been distributed across all regions of England and Wales, signal that flooding is a possibility.
  • 1910 - It was the wettest combined January and December since 1910, said the Met Office. For December alone it was the fifth wettest and for January it was the third wettest since 1910
  • 1,600 the number troops helping flood-stricken communities - a further 2,000 military personnel are on "high-readiness" to respond to requests in flood-affected areas.
  • 1995 - the wettest winter on record in the UK when 485.1mm of rain fell between December and the end of February, according to the Met Office. In the 2013/14 winter to February 10, 429.2mm of rainfall had already been recorded, meaning this winter is on track to be one of the wettest on record.
  • 5,800 - the number of properties flooded since early December.
  • 130,000 - the number of homes and businesses that were without power across the country last night.

12.59 Areas that have been hit by flooding are quieter today as people try and count the cost of the bad weather before the next storm hits tonight.

Claire Duffin, who is in Wraysbury, reports that the rescue centre, which for the last two days has been used as a base by police, the Army and RSPCA, today only has a few volunteer flood wardens are manning it.

Su Burrows, the volunteer flood warden who was credited with shaming the Government into action after she confronted Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, during a visit, said: "It's much, much quieter. The water seems to be stabilising, fingers crossed."

12.42 Most rail lines and roads have now re-opened following rush hour chaos this morning.

On the previously-closed section of the M2, two lanes were open London-bound and one was open coastbound.

Visiting the site of the hole today, Roads Minister Robert Goodwill said: "Motorists are understandably frustrated at the time it has taken to sort out this problem.

"However, it is important that the Highways Agency understands the cause of the problem before carrying out remedial action to avoid any repetition that could put motorists at risk.”

Mr Goodwill said the Highways Agency had dealt with more than 8,000 incidents in the last week, which includes flooding and clearing fallen trees, on top of routine breakdowns.

The agency has increased the number of traffic officers across the network to ensure prompt response to incidents and are looking at postponing roadwork schemes where trains are not running to aid traffic flow.

Roads which remain closed included a section of the A487 at Croesgoch in Pembrokeshire in South Wales, where a garage roof blew on to the road.

Handout photo issued by Northern Powergrid of damage to a pylon just south of Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear

A Northern Powergrid photograph of damage to a pylon just south of Houghton le Spring, Tyne and Wear

12.26 A heavily-pregnant woman has been forced to give birth at a petrol station after finding her route to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro blocked by fallen trees and floods.

Lee-Anne Keast, 40, went into labour five weeks early and she and husband Matt set off for the maternity ward at - but soon found all roads into the city were closed.

The couple from Long Rock, Cornwall, refused to panic and managed to persuade police to let them through a road blockade and pulled into the forecourt of a Shell garage where they had arranged to meet a paramedic.

Archie Robin-Lee was born minutes later in the front seat, weighing 5lb 10oz.

12.22 Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has given an update for those parts of Britain's network affected by the storm, praising the hard-work of engineers who have been dealing with the damages

12.16 The Government is looking at applying for money from the European Union to help deal with the fallout from the floods and storms.

The possibility of tapping into the EU's Solidarity Fund was raised at last night's meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra and Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude is looking into it, Patrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has said.

The fund is earmarked for helping with regional disasters in exceptional circumstances and can be used to help with repairs and clear-up work.

However, going to Europe for help may be seen as politically sensitive at a time when some backbenchers are questioning Britain's relationship with the EU.

Britain received £127 million from the fund following flooding in 2008.

Following a question in the Commons, the Transport Secretary said: "This was a matter which was discussed last night in the Cobra meeting and the Cabinet Office Minister is actually looking at all the avenues that are available to us to collect any money that we may be able to."

High water levels in the river Thames threaten housing near Penton Hook Weir

High water levels in the river Thames threaten housing near Penton Hook Weir (Getty)

12.09 A pensioner who died of suspected electrocution while attempting to move a fallen tree which had brought down power cables has been named by police.

Roger Hayward, 71, died yesterday afternoon in Bremhill, Calne, Wiltshire.

Inspector Nick Mawson said: "Our thoughts are with Roger's family at this difficult time. We cannot imagine how they must be feeling having lost him so suddenly.

"I would like to remind the public to be extremely careful with any fallen trees, particularly if power lines are involved.

"Please call 999 so that we can come and secure the area, and with the help of partners make it safe to remove any debris.

"The public should be careful not to underestimate the threats to safety that this weather brings, whether this is moving a fallen tree or driving through a flood.

"It is imperative that the public take the right precautions and do not take any risks that might threaten their safety."

11.59 We have a great gallery of pictures documenting the storms that have lashed Britain available here.

High winds has caused a lot of structural damage to buildings in and around Blackpool,

High winds has caused a lot of structural damage to buildings in and around Blackpool (Alamy)

11.40 David Cameron has not put a penny of new money on the table to repair railway networks battered by repeated storms, shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh has told the Commons.

Granted an urgent question to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin on disruption caused by the bad weather, Ms Creagh accused the Prime Minister of re-announcing money which was already pledged when he answered questions in the Commons yesterday.

Mr McLoughlin insisted the Government was investing huge amounts of new money in the railways.

Ms Creagh told MPs: "Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced £61 million was being made available by the Department for Transport to finance the repair and rebuilding of transport infrastructure. Yet it transpires that £31 million of this money was what he promised to the South West authorities and MPs last year for resilience and repairs around Exeter.

"£5 million has been spent by Network Rail in small repair schemes but the bulk of that £26 million from Government, promised by the Prime Minister last January, has never been received. Why not? Why did that money fail to materialise in the Autumn Statement? Did he just forget?

"Of the Prime Minister's £61 million announcement yesterday, it transpires £30 million for council road repairs was actually announced on Monday by (Eric Pickles).”

11.29 Treasury rules on spending on flood defences will be reviewed in the wake of the winter floods crisis, David Cameron has said.

The Prime Minister said there must be no repeat of the events which has seen some communities inundated with flood waters for weeks on end.

"We cannot let this situation happen again. Of course you get these abnormal weather events but we have got to do better as a country to make ourselves more resilient," he told BBC Radio Somerset.

Mr Cameron said ministers would look again at the Treasury formula which requires every £1 spent on flood defences to deliver at least £8 of economic benefit - a rule which critics say unfairly penalises small rural communities.

He suggested that the formula had been applied too rigidly in the past and that the Government take a more flexible approach in the future.

The Prime Minister said officials were working on a plan to protect the Somerset Levels, but added that “even the best experts in the world” don’t automatically agree on decisions such as how much dredging should be done.

Mr Cameron also admitted on BBC Radio Berkshire that the mobilisation of military resources to deal with the floods "sometimes hasn't happened as fast as people might like".

He has urged the Environment Agency and the gold commander leading the response to the floods in the Thames valley to take action now to protect areas likely to be under threat from rising waters expected later this week.

"I said to them 'You've got a little bit of time before - tragically - the water levels are likely to rise again at the end of the week'," he said.

"'Let's identify those communities that could be next in line and let's get the sandbags there and get the demountable flood defences there', and that's exactly what's happening."

 An overturned lorry on the A628 Woodhead Pass between Manchester and Barnsley

An overturned lorry on the A628 Woodhead Pass between Manchester and Barnsley (Alamy)

11.05 It is not just humans who are suffering from the extreme weather, as hundreds of dead puffins and other seabirds have been found washed up on storm-lashed beaches round the coast and it's feared entire colonies have been wiped out in a marine wildlife disaster.

On Chesil Beach in Dorset, scores of razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes, along with puffins, were found and it's been the same story from Cornwall to Northumberland and Scotland.

Experts say the birds died after becoming exhausted trying to battle the 80mph winds and driving rain.

Most were starving because the 20ft waves have made it too rough for them to hunt - the ferocious storms have pushed their prey such as mackerel and sand eels away from the coast and into deeper water where they are harder to catch.

Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre Officer Marc Smith said "Whilst we usually see dead birds washed up on the beach in the winter, these storms have made life much harder for them.

"Birds being found alive are tired and hungry because they are weak from fighting against the harsh conditions.

"The death of these birds is an even bigger blow after the huge loss during the PIB incident last year, where over 1,000 seabirds were found dead on the South Coast, covered in a deadly sticky glue substance."

And inland, flooded rivers are feared to have devastated the already-fragile water vole populations by washing them from their bankside burrows.

A Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek has also been swamped with nearly 50 animals washed ashore in the recent storms which have been recovered beaches, promenades and even back gardens.

They are unable to release them back into the wild until the weather calms down.

10.53 “Urgent work” needs to be done to improve the country’s infrastructure as it was designed for past times, Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, has said in response to recent flooding.

“Extreme weather events are likely to occur more frequently in the future and this, combined with rising sea-levels, present significant threats to our infrastructure which has largely be designed for past conditions.

“The sooner we adapt the engineered systems that provide our energy, water, drainage, transport and communications, as well as our villages, towns and cities, the better.

“Not only will this potentially help save lives and livelihoods, as well as reduce the widespread failures and disruption we’ve seen recently, but could also prove cheaper in the long-term.

He said that some of the essential changes include tougher Government regulation to ensure that infrastructure can cope with extreme weather.

As any changes will be expensive there needs to be an “honest dialogue with the public” about the fact that “future-proofing our country” will save money in the long run.

Dr Fox added: “In some cases they may not wish to pay this, but instead accept periods of reduced service from infrastructure during times of extreme weather or sea-level related disruption. We need to be realistic."

10.40 As weather misery shows no immediate sign of relenting Britain’s bookmakers are taking a punt that the biblical conditions could even silence Big Ben.

William Hill are offering odds of 12/1 that parliament will be closed because of weather before the end of April and odds of 50/1 that Big Ben will fail to chime for weather reasons before the same date.

After weather caused two Premiership fixtures to be postponed last night the bookmaker are speculating that further disruption this weekend. It is 4/1 that at least one of the eight FA cup fixture is postponed for weather related reasons.

They are offering odds of 2/1 that this February will prove to be the wettest on record and 2014 is 4/1 to be the wettest year on record.

Reporter Sam Marsden tweeted this picture from Worcester Bridge

The scene in Worcester this morning

10.22 People in Worcester are stoic in the face of the River Severn flooding that has effectively sliced the city in half, Sam Marsden reports.

Commuters had a long trip to work this morning after the floodwater closed the main bridge linking the east and west of Worcester.

Scores used special shuttle buses organised by the county council to get from one side of the city to the other.

After heavy rain yesterday and turbulent conditions overnight, there were blue skies over Worcester this morning, although it remained cold.

However, the Severn is still a fast-flowing muddy torrent that has engulfed riverside paths, homes and businesses.

Worcester City Council has been placed on an "emergency footing" while the floods last.

A council spokesman said: "What this essentially means is that as an organisation, we haven't got the capacity to co-ordinate all our normal day to day activities as well as dealing with the flooding situation.

"Moving to an emergency footing essentially means that we can redeploy staff away from their normal duties, to help out when and wherever it is required."

10.11 The storms caused chaos on the rail network last night as hundreds of passengers were left stranded for hours without heating and lighting and Virgin trains urged all customers to “abandon travel”, while those already on trains were let off at the nearest station.

Commuters face another day of disruption today with some trainlines warning of reduced services and delays, while others have urged passengers not to travel at all.

Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh has been granted an urgent question in the Commons on transport disruption caused by flooding. A transport minister will respond in the chamber at about 10.30am.

10.07 Flood tourists should stay away or they risk arrest, Thames Valley police have warned this morning.

Residents in flood hit areas have been complaining about people going to catch a glimpse of the devastation for days, but now officers are warning that they could be charged with anti-social behaviour offences.

The visitors have been said to be hampering rescue efforts.

Inspector Mark Millward said that in Datchett, in Berkshire, one of the main concerns was sight seers who have been driving through flood waters causing wakes and damaging property further.

Here is his video warning:

Thames Valley Police said a 31-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of going equipped for theft in Datchet Road, Horton, east Berkshire, early this morning.

Police are continuing to run regular patrols in areas affected by flooding, the force said.

A couple use a gondola as they paddle their way through Datchet

A couple use a gondola as they paddle their way through Datchet (Getty)

09.55 Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg this morning rejected calls from Ukip and some Tory MPs for cash to be diverted from the UK's £11 billion foreign aid budget to help flood victims.

Mr Clegg told LBC 97.3 radio: "I don't think it's an either/or. Of course charity starts at home and we have got to help those who have been affected by this flooding ... but I don't think you help Peter by stealing from Paul.

"I don't think at the end of the day we are necessarily going to help ourselves in the long run by not helping people who are wretched and poor and suffering the consequences of climate change in other parts of the world.

Mr Clegg last week said that politicians should not "get under the feet of emergency services" working on floods, but has since visited Somerset and will later today view affected areas of Cornwall.

The Government will review flood defences after waters have receded, said Mr Clegg, promising: "I will make sure, as Deputy Prime Minister, that as we review things we do so in a way that makes lasting change, where we can make that change, where we can afford it and deliver it."

Mr Clegg denied a report that the Queen criticised the Government response to the floods in a private meeting with him in his role as president of the Privy Council.

Asked on LBC radio whether it was true that the Queen had "waded in" over flooding, Mr Clegg replied: "No."

He declined to discuss the content of their conversations any further.

09.44 All of Britain’s emergency services have been working tirelessly to try and help those hit by flooding and extreme weather.

Greater Manchester Police took more than 1,700 calls in just seven hours yesterday from 3pm.

High winds blew the roof off a house and landed on a parked car and a block of flats was damaged in Oxfordshire as fire fighters fought to keep people safe.

On Merseyside firefighters were called to nine incidents due to the high winds.

They included a tree that had fallen on a car in Beech Avenue, Otterspool, Liverpool, and a collapsed chimney stack in Kirkdale in the city.

Trains were disrupted after a tree fell on the line in south Liverpool and flights were cancelled at the city's airport and Mersey Ferries services were disrupted due to the sea conditions.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service had one of its busiest evenings for several years answering more than 300 calls for help with a range of incidents largely involving unsafe structures. Most did not have large-scale damage and no rescues were needed.

Fire services attended more than 100 incidents including 77 unsafe structures including chimney stacks, lost tiles, guttering, signage and falling debris.

There were also two road collisions on the M55 including an overturned HGV.

Traffic makes its way past a damaged building at Blackpool Promenade

Traffic making its way past a damaged building at Blackpool Promenade last night (GETTY)

09.33 There are still 16 severe flood warnings in place in Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset, where hundreds of homes have had to be evacuated.

A severe flood warning from the Environment Agency indicates that there is a danger to life.

They have also issued 134 flood warnings, indicating that flooding is expected and immediate action is required, and 254 flood alerts, warning that people should be prepared as flooding is possible.

Every region in England and Wales is affected by the warnings.

Around 5,800 properties have been since early December, and with no immediate end to the crisis in sight, David Cameron will cut short his attendance at an international wildlife conference today to focus on dealing with the flooding.

09.13 The record river levels come after exceptional amounts of rain in what experts believe could turn out to be the wettest winter on record. January was the wettest since records began.

Forecasters go by the meteorological calendar, meaning winter is three months long and will end at the end of February.

Toby Willison, programme director at the Environment Agency, said: "This is an exceptional event, it was the highest rainfall in January since 1776 and we think it is likely December, January and February will be the highest for 250 years.”

The Thames Valley has seen its third wettest winter since 1908, according to the University of Reading's Atmospheric Observatory.

It measured 12.5ins (319.3mm) of rain in the region since December 15 - compared with an average of 6.4ins (164.4mm) for December, January and February.

Andrew Barrett, a storm expert at the university, said: "It will be a miracle if this is not the wettest winter on the record - with yet more storms set to batter the UK over the coming days."

housands of homes along the Thames are threatened with rising flood waters as Britain's flooding situation continues to worsen

Thousands of homes along the Thames are threatened with rising flood waters as Britain's flooding situation continues to worsen

(EPA)

09.04 Rivers across the country have reached record levels, with more rain forecast for tonight and into tomorrow.

The River Thames has reached its highest recorded level in more than 60 years in some places.

Residents in Windsor, Maidenhead and communities in Surrey - where nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated - have been warned to expect severe disruption and risk of flooding.

The River Severn in Worcester reached a new record level early this morning.

The height of the swollen river was measured at 5.67m (18ft 7ins) in the Barbourne area of the city at 5am.

This exceeded the previous high recorded at this spot of 5.64m (18ft 4ins) on July 21, 2007, the last time Worcester was flooded as badly as it has been this year.

To put this in context, the typical range for the height of the Severn at Barbourne is normally between 0.55m (1ft 9ins) and 3.35m (11ft), according to the Environment Agency.

However, there is a major caveat to this new record as the Environment Agency only installed its river measuring gauge at Barbourne in 2005, so the record only dates back nine years, Sam Marsden reports.

08.50 Some 80,000 homes across the country are still without power this morning, despite engineers working through the night to try and combat the devastation caused by the storms.

Tim Field, for Energy Networks Association, which represents energy companies in the UK, said: "We continue working throughout today to get as many of those people back on supply as quickly and as safely as possible.

"We have seen some pretty horrendous conditions. Wales has suffered very strong winds of over 100mph, gusts in excess of 80mph and 90mph quite frequently on land, and that has caused a lot of damage across the network across Wales so that is where we are seeing the majority of those people off supply at the moment."

Last night about 130,000 homes and businesses were without power across the country, with 10,000 affected in the North West, 52,000 in Mid and North Wales, 10,000 in Cheshire, 13,000 in the West Midlands and 19,000 in the South West.

A lady is blown off her feet as another tries to shelter in an estate agent's window in central Manchester

A woman was blown off her feet and another tried to shelter in an estate agent's window in central Manchester yesterday (EAMONN AND JAMES CLARKE)

08.35 Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said the weather chaos could even threatened to derail Britain's economic recovery.

"There's a big human cost here and I absolutely recognise that," he told ITV News last night.

"Then there's the disruption to economic activity that we see just through transport, but farming clearly will be affected for some time, other businesses.

"It is something that will affect the near time outlook."

08.30 A new Cabinet committee on flood recovery will also meet today, replacing a scheduled meeting of the full Cabinet

Mr Cameron, who chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee in 10 Downing Street, promised on Tuesday that "money is no object" in offering relief to those affected by the floods, though Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin indicated that there would be "careful consideration" before money is spent on the larger rebuilding exercise after water levels recede.

08.15 Commuters are facing chaos this morning as rail services across the country have been badly hit by the storms.

Some companies are advising passengers not to travel, whilst others are running a reduced service.

Here is a round up of some of the worst hit routes –

  • First Great Western is advising passengers not to travel, but has lifted ticket restrictions across the network until tomorrow.
  • The service from London Paddington to Cardiff has been cancelled, but all other trains between London Paddington and Swansea are still running and will call at Cardiff Central.
  • A half-hourly service will run between London Paddington and Bristol, while service will run every hour from London Paddington and Exeter St Davids.
  • Trains between Worcester and London Paddington will only run between Worcester and Oxford and an hourly shuttle service will run between Oxford and Didcot Parkway
  • On the London to Reading route, stopping services will run every 30 minutes, while a shuttle service will run between London Paddington and Slough every hour.
  • In the North West services run by First TransPennine Express, London Midland, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains are all affected, according to National Rail Enquiries.
  • No trains will run between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe until approximately 10am because of overhead wire damage near Runcorn, and replacement buses will be running. Trains between Preston and Blackpool North may be delayed by up to 20 minutes because of a problem at a level crossing.
  • East Coast and Northern Rail trains between Leeds and Wakefield Westgate/Doncaster will not run until at least 8am because of an overhead wire problem near Fitzwilliam, while East Coast, CrossCountry and First TransPennine Express services between Darlington and York may be delayed because of overhead wire problems between these stations.
  • Trains between Edinburgh and Newcastle have an 80mph speed restriction, meaning delays of up to 15 minutes.
  • In Wales storm-force winds are expected to cause further delays today. Trees on the line between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard Harbour mean no trains will be running between these stations, while trains are suspended between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog because of an obstructed line.
  • Buses will replace trains between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth until noon because power cables have been blown on to the tracks between Aberystwyth and Dovey Junction
  • No trains are running between Wolverhampton and Stafford because of an overhead wire problem between the stations, which is not expected to be fixed until 8.30am.
Worcester Cathedral is seen to the south from Worcester Bridge, closed to general traffic

This was the scene in Worcester yesterday, as the Cathedral is seen to the south from

Worcester Bridge, which was closed to general traffic (Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

08.00 Our reporter Sam Marsden has been braving the elements in Worcester and reports that the city has been cut in two by the raging River Severn, which flooded scores of homes and caused the closure of the main road bridge linking the city's two halves.

Here is his report: The height of the river has already narrowly exceeded the record level of 18ft 4ins (5.64m) seen during the 2007 floods, and is expected to peak this morning at up to 19ft (5.8m).

The flood water is already lapping halfway up a tarnished metal plaque on a restaurant next to the bridge recording the level that the Severn reached on February 12, 1795, 219 years earlier to the day

Matt Beesley's riverside house less than a mile from Worcester city centre first flooded on Sunday, although the waters then receded before returning on Tuesday night.

Last night he had about 1ft of water in his home, and the level was continuing to rise.

Mr Beesley, 39, who runs a market research consultancy, said he was now "pretty much cut off", although the water was not as high as it reached in 2007.

He said the authorities had only assisted him and his neighbours when they rang them up.

"The only help we get is when we call them up - they haven't come down. We had four people from the council asking if they could help with lifting stuff up for us. But we did that four or five days earlier," he said.

"I had to call the Environment Agency before they brought down sandbags."

All his neighbours on Diglis Avenue have also been flooded. The elderly and those with children have moved in with family or friends, but others are happy to stay.

Mr Beesley said he had concerns about the sewage that is "bubbling up" behind his house, but praised the community spirit that the floods have brought out.

"We have all mucked in. I have seen neighbours I haven't seen for a few months helping other people to move their things and we have all been using a communal kayak," he said.

Firefighters had to rescue 13 people living in sheltered housing flats on the riverside in Worcester yesterday, including May Turnbull, who turns 82 today.

Louise Keys, 49, a healthcare assistant, borrowed a pair of waders from the Worcester Angling Centre so she could get to the home of a diabetic woman who urgently needed food and medication but was cut off by the floods.

However, when she and a colleague arrived they discovered that the woman had already been rescued by the fire brigade and taken to a respite care centre.

Explaining her dedication to making sure she got there, she said: "I personally reassured this lady that I would go in and attend to her one way or another."

07.57 Nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated from homes in Surrey as the Welsh Fusiliers help with the operation.

But concerns have been raised about whether the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has equipped the soldiers with the specialist equipment needed to wade through stagnant water.

David Hughes, a former member of the Royal Artillery, said he had heard some soldiers had not been given proper gear. He told BBC Surrey: "We're used to being dropped in at the deep end.

"I've spoken to the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency and they say they have strict needs for their staff being deployed, for them to be provided with their own specialist kit and clothing.

"You don't know what's in the water and what submerged dangers are there."

UK floods

A soldier from the Royal Engineers carries a young evacuee resident onto dry land through a flooded road in Egham, Surrey (SANG TAN/AP)

07.50 The Met Office have lifted the issued a "red" weather warning for exceptionally strong winds in western parts of Wales and north-western parts of England which was in place yesterday.

However, they have issued yellow warning - telling people to be aware - of snow across Scotland and the North of England today.

There is also a warning of ice for southern Wales, the South West, and parts of the Home Counties.

07.44 A man in his 70s died in a suspected electrocution while attempting to move a tree which brought down power cables near Chippenham, Wiltshire, yesterday.

A lorry driver is in hospital after high winds blew over his vehicle in Bristol, while another man received treatment after becoming trapped under a fallen tree in Chivenor, Barnstaple, Devon.

07.30 Good morning and welcome to our weather live blog, follow us here for all the latest updates on the storms which have been lashing Britain.

It has been an eventful night for much of the country, which has seen storms so severe that yesterday was dubbed “wild Wednesday”.

One man died, tens of thousands were left without power, and hundreds of people were left stranded as hurricane force winds of up to 108mph stopped trains in their tracks, blew roofs off of stations and closed major transport links.

The good news is that there may be a brief respite from the bad weather today, but the bad news is it is not the end of the storms which have been wreaking havoc as another storm brings heavy rain, strong winds and further risk of flooding tomorrow and into the weekend.

Big waves crash into the already damaged sea wall on the Cobb at Lyme Regis in Dorset

Waves crash onto the beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset