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| Storm Frank: Body of kayaker found as Scotland bears the brunt of torrential rains - live | Storm Frank: Body of kayaker found as Scotland bears the brunt of torrential rains - live |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 1.59pm GMT13:59 | |
| Libby Brooks | |
| Our Scotland correspondent writes on the contrasting approaches to flood defence in Scotland and England. | |
| One of the striking things about reporting the flooding in Scotland over the past 24 hours has been the difference in public mood and provision up here. | |
| I asked Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, who has studied flood defences over may years, why this was. | |
| Dixon explains: “There is a systemic difference, because in Scotland flood defence is the responsibility of each local authority, while in England and Wales it is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. This makes decision-making more locally democratic and councils can be more aware of public mood.” | |
| He adds that it is - inevitably - also a question of funding. The Environment Agency is dealing with serious cuts. “But in Scotland, when a local authority tells the Scottish government that it needs money for flood defence it is usually found.” | |
| Dixon argues: “Flooding is a higher political priority in Scotland.” Nonetheless, he warns that there may be recriminations after the initial shock of these floods, which were so much bigger than the country has seen before. | |
| “Although the schemes in Scotland are fairly good, the problem at the heart of this is climate change, and what levels of flooding the schemes have been designed to meet. What used to be a one in 200-year flood is now happening much more frequently.” | |
| 1.55pm GMT13:55 | |
| Libby Brooks | |
| Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been visiting parts of southern Scotland worst affected by Storm Frank. | |
| In Newton Stewart, in Dumfries and Galloway, where residents were some of the first in Scotland to be evacuated after the River Cree burst its banks on Wednesday morning, Sturgeon described the effect on homes businesses as “devastating”. | |
| She added: “On the other side of that, the response has been heroic. Emergency services, volunteers, members of the public, the council, working together. There’s a sense here of real community spirit.” | |
| “But there’s a long recovery road ahead for some of the people I’ve been speaking to. One of the reasons I’m here is so that I can see it for myself, so we can make sure we are doing everything we reasonably can to help people with that recovery.” | |
| 1.51pm GMT13:51 | |
| There is a broad consensus among experts that climate change is contributing to more extreme weather events. Here is a sample. | |
| Dr Paul Williams, Royal Society University research fellow, department of meteorology, University of Reading: | |
| Simple physics tells us that warmer air can hold more water vapour. The global warming that we have experienced so far has increased the atmosphere’s moisture storage capacity by about seven per cent. This is undisputed science and it clearly increases the potential for extreme rainfall and flooding. | |
| Professor Andrew Watkinson, University of East Anglia, and author on Foresight Review on Flooding and contributor to Pitt Review: | |
| The government has been given ample warning by the Foresight Review on Future Flooding (2004) and the Pitt Review (2007) that the risk of flooding in Britain would increase as the result of a whole range of drivers including more intense storms and land use management, both of which have undoubtedly played a part in the recent floods. Perhaps this is happening more quickly than we anticipated, but we know what to do. There is no single solution to the change in flood risk, but rather a portfolio of responses is required including strategic engineering works, changes in land and river management, modernising urban drainage systems and changes in land use planning. This requires a more integrated approach to flood risk management and an increase in funding. | |
| Piers Forster, professor of climate science, Leeds University: | |
| There is no doubt in my mind that climate change is partly responsible for the flooding across the North of England. This December is around 5C warmer than normal and physics tells us that 24 hour extreme rainfall increases by 7% per degree. The high temperatures are the combined effect of El Niño on top of a man made global warming trend. These floods are in part due to greenhouse gas emissions Q.E.D.” | |
| Colin Thorne, professor and chair of physical geography, school of geography, Nottingham University: | |
| I don’t think we need another review: I think we need to accelerate implementation of responses to future flooding identified by the Flood Foresight Projects and envisaged in the comprehensive Catchment Flood Management Plans (CFMPs) that have already been worked out for every catchment in England and Wales. That does require investing more money in flood risk management, but the return on this type of investment is a good one - usually the benefit-cost ratio is about 6 to 1. | |
| We must spend that money wisely though - there is no ‘silver bullet’ that can prevent flooding entirely. We need to defend our cities, reduce the exposure of key infrastructure (especially electricity switching stations, water treatment plants etc.) and use a great deal more ‘managed flooding’ of farmland on floodplains to take more of the pressure off urban flood defences. That will require local and national cooperation from farmers - who deserve and should receive compensation for enhancing the capacity of their land to store flood water that would otherwise end up in somebody’s home or workplace. We must recognise that floodplains are the farmers’ work places” | |
| Professor Roger Falconer, professor of water management at Cardiff University and a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering: | |
| I believe the time has now come when we have to look at major engineering solutions to address some of the unprecedented flooding challenges that we have seen in recent years. Although efforts to raise embankments are very commendable, the problem with raising embankments is that one solves the problem for one part of a river reach, but only to move the flooding problem further downstream. | |
| In my view the principle of holding the water back in the top of the river basin is the right approach – this being the principle behind planting more trees and vegetation in the upper catchments. However, trees, vegetation and woody dams only deal with relatively small floods. To withhold the large volumes of water being deposited under the current storms we need to consider more significant flood storage alternatives such as reservoirs in the upper catchment or natural bankside storage reservoirs. | |
| 12.48pm GMT12:48 | 12.48pm GMT12:48 |
| Lunchtime summary | Lunchtime summary |
| 12.15pm GMT12:15 | 12.15pm GMT12:15 |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| Residents of Ballater, west of Aberdeen, who were evacuated after the River Dee burst its banks late on Wednesday, may have to spend another night in a makeshift rest centre while safety checks are carried out on their homes. | Residents of Ballater, west of Aberdeen, who were evacuated after the River Dee burst its banks late on Wednesday, may have to spend another night in a makeshift rest centre while safety checks are carried out on their homes. |
| While the main street in Ballater is now clear of flood water, Aberdeenshire Council said that some residents will have to stay at Victoria Barracks while final check are made. A spokesperson added that the authorities were still “very much in response mode”. | While the main street in Ballater is now clear of flood water, Aberdeenshire Council said that some residents will have to stay at Victoria Barracks while final check are made. A spokesperson added that the authorities were still “very much in response mode”. |
| Meanwhile, the Scottish government has triggered the Bellwin scheme, which allows ministers to offer emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help with the cost of flood damage. | Meanwhile, the Scottish government has triggered the Bellwin scheme, which allows ministers to offer emergency financial assistance to local authorities to help with the cost of flood damage. |
| Updated at 12.38pm GMT | Updated at 12.38pm GMT |
| 12.00pm GMT12:00 | 12.00pm GMT12:00 |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| Police Scotland have confirmed that they have recovered the body of a kayaker who got into difficulties on the River Findhorn, near Inverness, yesterday. Emergency services were called to an area known as Elephant Rock at around 12.36 yesterday afternoon, when a member of the public alerted them to a kayaker who was in difficulty navigating the swollen river water. Police Scotland have now confirmed that they recovered the man’s body from the river at 9am this morning, with the assistance of the coastguard. His next of kin have been informed. | Police Scotland have confirmed that they have recovered the body of a kayaker who got into difficulties on the River Findhorn, near Inverness, yesterday. Emergency services were called to an area known as Elephant Rock at around 12.36 yesterday afternoon, when a member of the public alerted them to a kayaker who was in difficulty navigating the swollen river water. Police Scotland have now confirmed that they recovered the man’s body from the river at 9am this morning, with the assistance of the coastguard. His next of kin have been informed. |
| 11.59am GMT11:59 | 11.59am GMT11:59 |
| Kevin Rawlinson in York has those Corbyn quotes in full. | Kevin Rawlinson in York has those Corbyn quotes in full. |
| The problem is that the system has been overwhelmed by the level of rainfall and the river flow and we now have to look very seriously at improving flood defences, at improving river basin management and making even more resilient pumping systems. The water rose so much that the electricity supply had to be turned off because the electricity supply was in danger. | The problem is that the system has been overwhelmed by the level of rainfall and the river flow and we now have to look very seriously at improving flood defences, at improving river basin management and making even more resilient pumping systems. The water rose so much that the electricity supply had to be turned off because the electricity supply was in danger. |
| “Immediately, [we are going to put] pressure on the government to fully fund the Environment Agency, not cut its budget, fully fund new flood defences where they are necessary, not just in York but in other cities as well. But also, bring together all of the agencies that deal with the issues of river basin management, water flow off the hills and further upstream. | “Immediately, [we are going to put] pressure on the government to fully fund the Environment Agency, not cut its budget, fully fund new flood defences where they are necessary, not just in York but in other cities as well. But also, bring together all of the agencies that deal with the issues of river basin management, water flow off the hills and further upstream. |
| But, also, I think recognise that the coming together of the Environment Agency, the local authorities, the police, the fire service and the army to try to deal with these issues has been an object lesson in people being prepared to work together. But they do need public support, they do need public investment. So, cutting flood defence money, which has been cut over the past five years, is not the answer, the answer has to be to increase it. | But, also, I think recognise that the coming together of the Environment Agency, the local authorities, the police, the fire service and the army to try to deal with these issues has been an object lesson in people being prepared to work together. But they do need public support, they do need public investment. So, cutting flood defence money, which has been cut over the past five years, is not the answer, the answer has to be to increase it. |
| 11.56am GMT11:56 | 11.56am GMT11:56 |
| First flood death | First flood death |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| The body of a kayaker who went missing near Inverness yesterday has been recovered. More details to follow. | The body of a kayaker who went missing near Inverness yesterday has been recovered. More details to follow. |
| 11.53am GMT11:53 | 11.53am GMT11:53 |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| One of our northern correspondents writes on the Dunkirk spirit in Yorkshire. | One of our northern correspondents writes on the Dunkirk spirit in Yorkshire. |
| It will take more than Storm Frank to stop Yorkshire folk celebrating the new year in style. In Leeds, the Kirkstall Bridge Inn has reopened its doors in time to host a Hawaiian-themed BBQ tonight despite being deluged by two floods in as many months. | It will take more than Storm Frank to stop Yorkshire folk celebrating the new year in style. In Leeds, the Kirkstall Bridge Inn has reopened its doors in time to host a Hawaiian-themed BBQ tonight despite being deluged by two floods in as many months. |
| The pub closed early on Boxing Day when the storm hit, leaving its bottom bar under 5ft of floodwater. Around 100 volunteers mucked in to help clear the sewage and silt from the pub in time for New Year’s Eve. | The pub closed early on Boxing Day when the storm hit, leaving its bottom bar under 5ft of floodwater. Around 100 volunteers mucked in to help clear the sewage and silt from the pub in time for New Year’s Eve. |
| Ian Forster, the pub’s landlord, said tonight’s party was now sold out with 200 ticket-holders defying Storm Frank to hold a proper Yorkshire knees-up. “We knew we would do something - rain or shine we’d make some effort,” said Forster, 33. | Ian Forster, the pub’s landlord, said tonight’s party was now sold out with 200 ticket-holders defying Storm Frank to hold a proper Yorkshire knees-up. “We knew we would do something - rain or shine we’d make some effort,” said Forster, 33. |
| New fireworks have been bought to replace those claimed by the floodwater, he added, with the hardiest ticket-holders expected to turn up to the part in traditional Hawaiian dress. “It won’t be as good as it was but we’ve managed to get some fireworks at least. The Hawaiian BBQ was inspired by the floods - there’ll be flip-flops, it’s ideal weather for it.” | New fireworks have been bought to replace those claimed by the floodwater, he added, with the hardiest ticket-holders expected to turn up to the part in traditional Hawaiian dress. “It won’t be as good as it was but we’ve managed to get some fireworks at least. The Hawaiian BBQ was inspired by the floods - there’ll be flip-flops, it’s ideal weather for it.” |
| Morning all! As predicted, we've powered on through with a little help from our friends & will indeed be open TONIGHT! #NYE #fighttheflood | Morning all! As predicted, we've powered on through with a little help from our friends & will indeed be open TONIGHT! #NYE #fighttheflood |
| Updated at 12.10pm GMT | Updated at 12.10pm GMT |
| 11.41am GMT11:41 | 11.41am GMT11:41 |
| The Met has issued a yellow warning (be aware) of snow and ice for the north-east. “A cold, showery airstream will bring wintry showers across the region,” said a Met office forecaster. “Whilst most showers at low levels will be of rain, they will turn to snow locally in heavier bursts.” | The Met has issued a yellow warning (be aware) of snow and ice for the north-east. “A cold, showery airstream will bring wintry showers across the region,” said a Met office forecaster. “Whilst most showers at low levels will be of rain, they will turn to snow locally in heavier bursts.” |
| 11.32am GMT11:32 | 11.32am GMT11:32 |
| The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been talking to Sky News during a visit to York. He said the flood defence system in York was overwhelmed and that resilience has to be examined not just for York but the whole country. | The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been talking to Sky News during a visit to York. He said the flood defence system in York was overwhelmed and that resilience has to be examined not just for York but the whole country. |
| “We face higher rainfall, more flooding,” he said. “We have to be prepared to invest in flood defences, uplands management... cuts in public expenditure are not the answer. We need a thorough examination of flood defence not just in York, but the whole country.” | “We face higher rainfall, more flooding,” he said. “We have to be prepared to invest in flood defences, uplands management... cuts in public expenditure are not the answer. We need a thorough examination of flood defence not just in York, but the whole country.” |
| The Guardian this morning reported on criticism of George Osborne, who has been accused of jeopardising Britain’s crumbling flood defences over the past five years by prioritising cuts to the deficit. He was also warned that infrastructure spending may need to rise sharply to adapt to climate change. | The Guardian this morning reported on criticism of George Osborne, who has been accused of jeopardising Britain’s crumbling flood defences over the past five years by prioritising cuts to the deficit. He was also warned that infrastructure spending may need to rise sharply to adapt to climate change. |
| Related: Experts criticise George Osborne over flood protection funding | Related: Experts criticise George Osborne over flood protection funding |
| 11.18am GMT11:18 | 11.18am GMT11:18 |
| Some of the Twitter heckling as the EA tweets an image of its boss doing the rounds of flooded areas. His nice tan did not go unnoticed. | Some of the Twitter heckling as the EA tweets an image of its boss doing the rounds of flooded areas. His nice tan did not go unnoticed. |
| Our chairman's visited volunteers, wardens & those affected by flooding in #Todmorden, #Hebden Bridge & #Mytholmroyd pic.twitter.com/gJs4tZq3Wf | Our chairman's visited volunteers, wardens & those affected by flooding in #Todmorden, #Hebden Bridge & #Mytholmroyd pic.twitter.com/gJs4tZq3Wf |
| 11.10am GMT11:10 | 11.10am GMT11:10 |
| ConocoPhillips evacuating staff from North Sea platform | ConocoPhillips evacuating staff from North Sea platform |
| Reuters has more on this rogue barge in the North Sea. ConocoPhillips has now shut down output at its Eldfisk and Embla fields in the North Sea and was evacuating staff from its Eldfisk platform amid fears of the barge hitting its installations. | Reuters has more on this rogue barge in the North Sea. ConocoPhillips has now shut down output at its Eldfisk and Embla fields in the North Sea and was evacuating staff from its Eldfisk platform amid fears of the barge hitting its installations. |
| 11.02am GMT11:02 | 11.02am GMT11:02 |
| The Met’s forecast for today is a brighter, colder day with sunshine and showers, some heavy with hail and thunder especially during the afternoon. A cold night is expected with a widespread frost in all parts. | The Met’s forecast for today is a brighter, colder day with sunshine and showers, some heavy with hail and thunder especially during the afternoon. A cold night is expected with a widespread frost in all parts. |
| Many areas should be fine and dry on New Year’s Day (Friday), but cloud, rain and strong winds are likely to return from the west over the weekend. This very unsettled and occasionally stormy spell was well signalled in our recent three month outlooks and is not unusual for this time of year, indeed this is when climatologically we would expect to have most of our storms. | Many areas should be fine and dry on New Year’s Day (Friday), but cloud, rain and strong winds are likely to return from the west over the weekend. This very unsettled and occasionally stormy spell was well signalled in our recent three month outlooks and is not unusual for this time of year, indeed this is when climatologically we would expect to have most of our storms. |
| 10.58am GMT10:58 | 10.58am GMT10:58 |
| And here is the Met’s graphic on how wet it’s been in December. | And here is the Met’s graphic on how wet it’s been in December. |
| Record breaking rainfall in December puts 2015 in the top ten wettest years on records going back to 1910 pic.twitter.com/7fJnl0Ap4Z | Record breaking rainfall in December puts 2015 in the top ten wettest years on records going back to 1910 pic.twitter.com/7fJnl0Ap4Z |
| 10.55am GMT10:55 | 10.55am GMT10:55 |
| Met: December 2015, the warmest since 1910 | Met: December 2015, the warmest since 1910 |
| The Met Office says December 2015 was the warmest since 1910. Along with the remarkable warmth, and virtual complete lack of frost, there has been a marked contrast in rainfall across the UK, it adds. | The Met Office says December 2015 was the warmest since 1910. Along with the remarkable warmth, and virtual complete lack of frost, there has been a marked contrast in rainfall across the UK, it adds. |
| It has been the wettest December on record for Scotland (333.1 mm), and for Wales (321 mm) and Northern Ireland is currently ranked 4th wettest with 208.1 mm. North-west England has also seen record breaking rainfall, but central and southern England have been much closer to average. For the UK as a whole it’s currently the second wettest on record. | It has been the wettest December on record for Scotland (333.1 mm), and for Wales (321 mm) and Northern Ireland is currently ranked 4th wettest with 208.1 mm. North-west England has also seen record breaking rainfall, but central and southern England have been much closer to average. For the UK as a whole it’s currently the second wettest on record. |
| For Scotland, this is already the wettest ever calendar month in our series since 1910, with 333 mm in the first 29 days easily beating the previous record of 301 mm which was set as recently as December 2013. | For Scotland, this is already the wettest ever calendar month in our series since 1910, with 333 mm in the first 29 days easily beating the previous record of 301 mm which was set as recently as December 2013. |
| For Wales, only one calendar month (November 1929) has had more rain than December 2015, and if the last two days of this month brings more than 16 mm then this record will be broken. | For Wales, only one calendar month (November 1929) has had more rain than December 2015, and if the last two days of this month brings more than 16 mm then this record will be broken. |
| Latest stats reveal December 2015 was the warmest on record dating back to 1910 https://t.co/7RtbbV2X1f pic.twitter.com/u8zMZ6Alcr | Latest stats reveal December 2015 was the warmest on record dating back to 1910 https://t.co/7RtbbV2X1f pic.twitter.com/u8zMZ6Alcr |
| Updated at 12.35pm GMT | Updated at 12.35pm GMT |
| 10.49am GMT10:49 | 10.49am GMT10:49 |
| The Birmingham Mail has this story about woman’s narrow escape after a tree fell on her house. | The Birmingham Mail has this story about woman’s narrow escape after a tree fell on her house. |
| A Birmingham great-grandmother is lucky to be alive after a 100-foot tall tree came crashing through her bathroom – missing her by seconds. | A Birmingham great-grandmother is lucky to be alive after a 100-foot tall tree came crashing through her bathroom – missing her by seconds. |
| Amazingly, it was the SECOND time in four years that Ruth Stokes had a narrow escape from falling trees. | Amazingly, it was the SECOND time in four years that Ruth Stokes had a narrow escape from falling trees. |
| The 79-year-old had just stepped out of her bathroom to look in a hallway mirror when a neighbour’s 100ft poplar tree collapsed in high winds caused by Storm Frank . | The 79-year-old had just stepped out of her bathroom to look in a hallway mirror when a neighbour’s 100ft poplar tree collapsed in high winds caused by Storm Frank . |
| It smashed through the side of her bungalow in Balaclava Road, Kings Heath. Had she not made the impulse decision, she could have been killed. | It smashed through the side of her bungalow in Balaclava Road, Kings Heath. Had she not made the impulse decision, she could have been killed. |
| Great-grandma cheats death as 100ft tree crashes through her bathroom https://t.co/XICOBDV3MR #bhambc pic.twitter.com/sIJBCIEjxa | Great-grandma cheats death as 100ft tree crashes through her bathroom https://t.co/XICOBDV3MR #bhambc pic.twitter.com/sIJBCIEjxa |
| 10.46am GMT10:46 | 10.46am GMT10:46 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| Our Ireland correspondent reports that the Irish Republic appears to have taken a harder knock from Storm Frank than their neighbours in Northern Ireland. | Our Ireland correspondent reports that the Irish Republic appears to have taken a harder knock from Storm Frank than their neighbours in Northern Ireland. |
| As of this morning there are still around 3,000 homes in the Republic without power and huge flood damage across the south and south-west counties of Ireland. | As of this morning there are still around 3,000 homes in the Republic without power and huge flood damage across the south and south-west counties of Ireland. |
| Ireland’s meterological service, Met Eireann, said the bad weather will continue to hammer the country well into the new year. | Ireland’s meterological service, Met Eireann, said the bad weather will continue to hammer the country well into the new year. |
| Met Éireann head of forecasting Gerald Fleming said: “There is no sign of an end to this spell of windy, very unsettled and very wet weather that will last well into the middle of next week and beyond.” | Met Éireann head of forecasting Gerald Fleming said: “There is no sign of an end to this spell of windy, very unsettled and very wet weather that will last well into the middle of next week and beyond.” |
| Winds of up to 110 kms/per hour are expected to sweep across the country on New Years Eve, Met Éireann said. | Winds of up to 110 kms/per hour are expected to sweep across the country on New Years Eve, Met Éireann said. |
| North of the border, Northern Ireland Electricity has restored power this morning to 20,000 homes whose supply was temporarily cut down the stormy conditions over the last 24 hours. | North of the border, Northern Ireland Electricity has restored power this morning to 20,000 homes whose supply was temporarily cut down the stormy conditions over the last 24 hours. |
| However emergency services had to rescue 18 people from their cars and vehicles as well a number of homes across Northern Ireland over the last 24 hours. In Co. Down half a month’s rainfall fell on the county in just three hours, the Met Office said. | However emergency services had to rescue 18 people from their cars and vehicles as well a number of homes across Northern Ireland over the last 24 hours. In Co. Down half a month’s rainfall fell on the county in just three hours, the Met Office said. |
| Many roads are still impassable and the Belfast to Dublin rail link was badly disrupted after a section of the train line from Portadown to Newry became completely submerged by rainfall. | Many roads are still impassable and the Belfast to Dublin rail link was badly disrupted after a section of the train line from Portadown to Newry became completely submerged by rainfall. |
| 10.41am GMT10:41 | 10.41am GMT10:41 |
| Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has criticised the Environment Agency for its handling of the crisis, ahead of a visit to York, PA reports. | Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, has criticised the Environment Agency for its handling of the crisis, ahead of a visit to York, PA reports. |
| Corbyn said he planned to question officials about 10 “high volume pumps” the party claims the agency owns but has not deployed to the north. | Corbyn said he planned to question officials about 10 “high volume pumps” the party claims the agency owns but has not deployed to the north. |
| The Labour leader said last night: “Tomorrow I am meeting officials from the Environment Agency (EA) emergency response team in York. I will raise with them why they have failed to deploy these brand new pumps that looks as if they could have helped significantly in alleviating some of the worst impacts of the floods in the north of England.” | The Labour leader said last night: “Tomorrow I am meeting officials from the Environment Agency (EA) emergency response team in York. I will raise with them why they have failed to deploy these brand new pumps that looks as if they could have helped significantly in alleviating some of the worst impacts of the floods in the north of England.” |
| Labour’s criticism comes from an October EA report in which it says it had bought “10 one cubic metre per second capacity high volume pumps, which have now been received and are being stored at Bradney depot in Bridgwater, Somerset”. | Labour’s criticism comes from an October EA report in which it says it had bought “10 one cubic metre per second capacity high volume pumps, which have now been received and are being stored at Bradney depot in Bridgwater, Somerset”. |
| The EA said one of the new pumps had been deployed to assist the clean up in Cumbria earlier this month. | The EA said one of the new pumps had been deployed to assist the clean up in Cumbria earlier this month. |
| A spokeswoman said: “During a major flood incident we are able to use equipment from across the country to help communities affected by flooding. During December we moved 43 pumps and around 5,000m of flood barriers from other parts of the country to flood-hit areas in the north of England to help reduce the risk of flooding to communities.” | A spokeswoman said: “During a major flood incident we are able to use equipment from across the country to help communities affected by flooding. During December we moved 43 pumps and around 5,000m of flood barriers from other parts of the country to flood-hit areas in the north of England to help reduce the risk of flooding to communities.” |
| 10.33am GMT10:33 | 10.33am GMT10:33 |
| The worst may be over, but there are still 32 flood warnings in England and Wales. | The worst may be over, but there are still 32 flood warnings in England and Wales. |
| 31 flood warnings and 131 flood alerts in England and Wales this morning. Be #floodaware Stay safe: check the latest https://t.co/pEzuXVrJv3 | 31 flood warnings and 131 flood alerts in England and Wales this morning. Be #floodaware Stay safe: check the latest https://t.co/pEzuXVrJv3 |
| 10.31am GMT10:31 | 10.31am GMT10:31 |
| Dumfries in southern Scotland was one of the worst affected communities by Storm Frank. | Dumfries in southern Scotland was one of the worst affected communities by Storm Frank. |
| Peebles was hit by flooding when the River Tweed burst its banks. | Peebles was hit by flooding when the River Tweed burst its banks. |
| The flooded Knavesmire in York. | The flooded Knavesmire in York. |
| 10.06am GMT10:06 | 10.06am GMT10:06 |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| Scotland took the worst of Storm Frank, as heavy rains forced people into temporary accommodation. Our Scotland correspondent reports. | Scotland took the worst of Storm Frank, as heavy rains forced people into temporary accommodation. Our Scotland correspondent reports. |
| Around 100 people spent the night in temporary accommodation after the River Dee in Aberdeenshire burst its banks late on Wednesday. As the river reached its highest level since 1928, residents on Aberdeen’s Riverside Drive and a nearby sheltered accomodation were evacuated and a makeshift rest centre was opened at the Norwood Hotel. | Around 100 people spent the night in temporary accommodation after the River Dee in Aberdeenshire burst its banks late on Wednesday. As the river reached its highest level since 1928, residents on Aberdeen’s Riverside Drive and a nearby sheltered accomodation were evacuated and a makeshift rest centre was opened at the Norwood Hotel. |
| Some 100 people spent the night military barracks after the Dee also flooded in Ballater, east of the city. Local people helped to make beds and open the kitchens to provide hot drinks and food for the evecuees. Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland from Victoria Barracks, local resident Billy Begg described the speed with which the river burst its banks and flooded his home. | Some 100 people spent the night military barracks after the Dee also flooded in Ballater, east of the city. Local people helped to make beds and open the kitchens to provide hot drinks and food for the evecuees. Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland from Victoria Barracks, local resident Billy Begg described the speed with which the river burst its banks and flooded his home. |
| “It was like a flash flood. The water was rising so quickly. The firemen knocked on our door and threw a harness onto me and said ‘we’ve got to get you out’.” Begg said that he and his wife had not time to save anything from their home. “I just have what I’m standing in. I’m still in my slippers.” | “It was like a flash flood. The water was rising so quickly. The firemen knocked on our door and threw a harness onto me and said ‘we’ve got to get you out’.” Begg said that he and his wife had not time to save anything from their home. “I just have what I’m standing in. I’m still in my slippers.” |
| According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), 64 flood warnings remain in place this morning, two of them severe around the Tweed in Peebles and the Whitesands area of Dumfries. | According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), 64 flood warnings remain in place this morning, two of them severe around the Tweed in Peebles and the Whitesands area of Dumfries. |
| First minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to visit Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the communities worst affected by the storm. | First minister Nicola Sturgeon is due to visit Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, one of the communities worst affected by the storm. |
| Heading to south of Scotland this morning to see for myself some of the damage caused by #StormFrank & thank those working 24/7 to respond. | Heading to south of Scotland this morning to see for myself some of the damage caused by #StormFrank & thank those working 24/7 to respond. |
| Updated at 11.05am GMT | Updated at 11.05am GMT |
| 9.46am GMT09:46 | 9.46am GMT09:46 |
| BP orders complete evacuation of Valhall field in North Sea | BP orders complete evacuation of Valhall field in North Sea |
| BP has already evacuated 150 people from offshore platforms in the North Sea due to an unmanned barge drifting in rough seas toward the Valhall oil field, Reuters reports. Eighty five remain on the platforms. | BP has already evacuated 150 people from offshore platforms in the North Sea due to an unmanned barge drifting in rough seas toward the Valhall oil field, Reuters reports. Eighty five remain on the platforms. |
| Company spokesman Jan-Erik Geirmo said a tug boat was trying to gain control of the barge, which started drifting amid strong winds and high waves late last night. Earlier, Norway’s Statoil said one worker was killed and two were injured when a big wave slammed into a drilling rig on Wednesday in the Troll field, also in the North Sea. Most workers were evacuated from the rig as it headed to shore under its own power. | Company spokesman Jan-Erik Geirmo said a tug boat was trying to gain control of the barge, which started drifting amid strong winds and high waves late last night. Earlier, Norway’s Statoil said one worker was killed and two were injured when a big wave slammed into a drilling rig on Wednesday in the Troll field, also in the North Sea. Most workers were evacuated from the rig as it headed to shore under its own power. |
| Valhall is an oil field in the southern Norwegian North Sea. Located in 70 metres of water, the field was originally developed with three facilities, but has now 8 platforms. Production started in 1982. | Valhall is an oil field in the southern Norwegian North Sea. Located in 70 metres of water, the field was originally developed with three facilities, but has now 8 platforms. Production started in 1982. |
| 9.31am GMT09:31 | 9.31am GMT09:31 |
| Mark Tran | Mark Tran |
| Hundreds of homes were evacuated and thousands are without power after Storm Frank battered the UK with heavy rain and high winds. Residents in Scotland were the latest to endure the misery of being forced from their homes by bad weather as the third named storm in a month hit the country, causing widespread disruption. Further torrential rain also hit the saturated north of England, with people in Croston, Lancashire, urged to immediately evacuate their homes. As the clean-up gets underway, here is the situation on New Year’s Eve. | Hundreds of homes were evacuated and thousands are without power after Storm Frank battered the UK with heavy rain and high winds. Residents in Scotland were the latest to endure the misery of being forced from their homes by bad weather as the third named storm in a month hit the country, causing widespread disruption. Further torrential rain also hit the saturated north of England, with people in Croston, Lancashire, urged to immediately evacuate their homes. As the clean-up gets underway, here is the situation on New Year’s Eve. |