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Dozens rescued from floods as severe UK weather continues Dozens rescued from floods as severe UK weather continues
(about 1 hour later)
Nearly 30 people have been evacuated from their homes in north Lancashire as heavy rain caused widespread flooding and travel disruption across north-west England and north Wales. Firefighters have rescued more than 70 people as torrential rain caused widespread flooding and power blackouts across north-west England and north Wales.
Lancashire constabulary said emergency services, the Environment Agency and Lancaster city council had received more than 500 flood-related calls, attended more than 100 incidents and rescued more than 70 people from flood incidents. Parts of north Lancashire, including Lancaster and the village of Galgate, were the worst affected as heavy rain fell in areas badly hit by Storm Desmond two years ago.
Emergency crews received around 500 flood-related calls and attended more than 100 incidents in Lancashire overnight, evacuating 30 people from their homes and rescuing 20 horses from the rising flood water.
The Met Office said about 43mm (1.7in) of rain had fallen in 24 hours in parts of Lancashire, while further north in Cumbria about half a month’s rain, 89mm (3.5in), was recorded in 36 hours at Shap.
Hundreds of homes on Lancashire’s Fylde coast, near Blackpool, were without electricity on Thursday morning as residents woke up to power blackouts, travel disruption and school closures.
The Environment Agency issued 25 flood alerts and warnings across the north-west of England on Thursday morning, with a further 12 in place in north Yorkshire and the north-east of England.
There were early signs of widespread travel disruption across north Lancashire due to the closure of a number of busy commuter roads and rail services into Lancaster. A number of schools across the county have also closed due to flooding.
Roads are shut and rail services have also been suspended by floods in north Wales, and snow is forecast across Scotland.
Cat Smith, the Labour MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, said she was angry about the severity of the effects of the flooding and that she had recently raised concerns about drainage with Lancashire county council but not received a reply.
On the 4th October I wrote to @LancashireCC expressing concerns over blocked drains and was promised a reply within six weeks. That’s passed and I’ve heard nothing and observe drains blocked throughout Lancaster and Fleetwood. I’m angry tonight.
The council opened an emergency centre when there was no relief from the heavy rain on Wednesday night.
In the village of Galgate, three miles south of Lancaster, residents had to abandon their homes and cars when the river Conder burst its banks on Wednesday night.
Maggie Wild, whose cellar was flooded, said her cooker, washing machine, dishwasher and boiler were “all gone”. She told the BBC: “[I] came home and thought it is pretty high and it is still going to rain all night so I better start moving stuff out of the way.
“It just came in faster and faster ... and there came a point when we were bucketing it out and we had pumps going on it ... It was bucket versus river, and the river won.”
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People were urged not to call emergency services unless there was a threat to life as crews continued to respond to a backlog of incidents.People were urged not to call emergency services unless there was a threat to life as crews continued to respond to a backlog of incidents.
The Met Office said about 1.7in (4.3cm) of rain had fallen in 24 hours in parts of Lancashire, while further north in Cumbria around half a month’s rain, 3.5in (8.9cm), was recorded in 36 hours at Shap. The rail operator Northern tweeted that flooding had stopped services between Lancaster and Morecambe, Carlisle, Oxenholme and Windermere.
Rail operator Northern tweeted that flooding had stopped services between Lancaster and Morecambe, Carlisle, Oxenholme and Windermere. A southbound stretch of the M6 in south Cumbria was reduced to one lane on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, while North Yorkshire police said a number of vehicles had been recovered from flood waters in the Yorkshire Dales as the A65 was closed.
A southbound stretch of the M6 in south Cumbria was reduced to one lane on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, while North Yorkshire police said “a number of vehicles” had been recovered from floodwaters in the Yorkshire Dales as the A65 was closed. In Scotland wintry showers are forecast to bring 18mm-50mm (0.7in to 2in) of snow to many parts of Scotland and up to 20cm (7.9in) on the highest ground, the Met Office said.
In Scotland wintry showers are forecast to bring 0.7in to 2in (1.8cm-5cm) of snow to many parts of Scotland and up to 7.9in (20cm) on the highest ground, the Met Office said. Snow was beginning to accumulate on high ground in Scotland on Thursday, with 43mm (1.7in) measured on Aviemore and 30mm (1.2in) in Altnaharra.
Snow was beginning to accumulate on high ground in Scotland on Thursday morning, with 1.7in (4.3cm) measured on Aviemore and 1.2in (3cm) in Altnaharra.
A yellow “be aware” weather warning for snow kicked in just after midnight for the Scottish Highlands, Western Isles, Grampian, Strathclyde and Central, Tayside and Fife regions.A yellow “be aware” weather warning for snow kicked in just after midnight for the Scottish Highlands, Western Isles, Grampian, Strathclyde and Central, Tayside and Fife regions.
The warning, which covers the morning rush hour and is valid until 1pm on Thursday, warns that some roads and railways are likely to be affected, with possible longer journey times for road, bus and train services. The warning, in place until 1pm on Thursday, warns that some roads and railways are likely to be affected, with possible longer journey times for road, bus and train services.
In north Wales, the police and fire service appealed to the public to only dial 999 during flooding if there was a risk to life. The Isle of Anglesey county council said major flooding had hit Llangefni, where images showed water rushing down Church Street in the town centre.