Continued heavy rain south of Britain increases flood fears

1st May 2012

There were fears that many parts of England and Wales faced further flooding on Tuesday 1 May as heavy rain continued to drench southern Britain after the wettest April since records began (1910).

The Environment Agency are particularly concerned about conditions in Somerset, Dorset and Devon – which saw some of the heaviest overnight downpours – as it continued to check flood defences on rising rivers.

Sandbags have been issued to homes most at risk in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, where surface water already covers much of the flood plain around the town. In the 2007 floods it was among the worst hit areas.

More than 20mm (0.8in) of rain fell in some areas (Exmoor had 32mm in 24 hours), and fire services warned motorists not to drive their cars through flood water after a man died in an accident on the Hampshire-Berkshire border on Monday. Thirty-seven flood warnings, where floods were expected, and 144 alerts, where they were possible, were in place early on Tuesday 1 May. The agency said in a statement: "There is still a risk of flooding across many parts of England and Wales with particular focus on Somerset, Dorset and Devon.

"River flows are high after this weekend's rainfall and we are keeping a close watch on river levels as well as checking defences and clearing any potential blockages to reduce the risk of flooding."

The Met Office, too, warned of floods and difficult driving conditions but the rain in southern England was expected to ease later in the day. Northern areas faced far drier weather. But heavy rain will be back by late on Wednesday 2 May, say forecasters.

Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service said it had attended seven separate incidents in the past two days in which vehicles had become stuck in flood water.

Although the last two weeks has seen significant levels of rainfall in southern parts of England, swaths of the country remain in a state of drought after two dry winters and the government has said everyone must still save water while they can. 

For more information and to keep up to date with flood reports, go to the Environment Agency website.