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Flood alert for Devon and Cornwall with heavy rain forecast Rain and gales spark sea rescues off Devon and Cornwall
(about 9 hours later)
South-west England has been urged to prepare for flooding after a warning of heavy rain by the Met Office. Severe weather has sparked a number of rescues at sea off the coast of Devon and Cornwall.
The Environment Agency said people in Devon and Cornwall should "remain prepared" for the possibility of flooding. The Penlee lifeboat was launched after a yacht lost its engine and sails off the coast of Newlyn in Cornwall.
It said caravan and campsite operators should also be ready to take action. Meanwhile the St Mary's lifeboat went to the rescue of another yacht which had been knocked over off St Martins on the Isles of Scilly.
In Cornwall, Skybus and Scillonian III said their services to the Isles of Scilly could be disrupted because of the forecasted weather. In Devon, a boat ran aground near Cremyll harbour, while another got into trouble off Plymouth Sound.
Gales and rain A number of small boats have also broken away from their moorings.
The Isles of Scilly Travel company said the Scillonian III ship would depart from Penzance at 09:15 BST on Thursday but remain docked at St Mary's Harbour until Friday at 16:30. Traffic delays
Skybus will fly to the islands on Thursday, although it is expected that weather conditions will deteriorate, affecting the afternoon flights and services on Friday. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said conditions at sea off the South West were very poor.
Nick Sanders, from the company which runs the air and sea services, said: "Passenger safety is at the heart of any decision we take to cancel transport to and from the islands. "We've got severe gales and high seas, so it's not good at all," a spokesman said.
"With the forecasted conditions, there is no way we would be able to operate either of our services." The Penlee lifeboat's coxswain, Patrick "Patch" Harvey, described the rescue of the yacht Harmony as a "bit tricky" and conditions at sea as "nasty" with waves about 5m (16ft) high.
All passengers scheduled to travel on the Scillonian III or Skybus would be offered the chance to re-book or be refunded, the company said. Services to the Isles of Scilly have also been disrupted, with the Scillonian III remaining docked at St Mary's Harbour until Friday at 16:30 BST when it it scheduled to return to Penzance.
The Met Office has forecast that scattered showers - some heavy - will develop northeastwards throughout the region on Thursday, with very windy gales and heavy showers expected on Friday. Skybus said weather conditions had not been as severe as it expected and most of its flights had taken off with only slight delays.
The Environment Agency said it does not expect river flooding but said surface water could cause problems for campers over the next couple of days. The Environment Agency has warned people to "remain prepared" for the possibility of flooding.
It also told caravan and campsite operators to be ready to take action if flooding occurred.
Surface water
The A39 between Truro and Falmouth in Cornwall was closed after a large tree was brought down by the wind.
The closure led to considerable traffic delays, which were made worse by an accident on one of the roads that was being used for a diversion.
The Met Office has forecast gale-force winds and heavy showers on Friday.
The Environment Agency currently has no active flood warnings, but it said surface water could cause problems.