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| Fears as floods loom in new areas | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fresh floods have hit Oxford while residents further along the River Thames have been warned that water levels are likely to peak later. | Fresh floods have hit Oxford while residents further along the River Thames have been warned that water levels are likely to peak later. |
| Homes were evacuated in Oxford overnight while places including Reading, Henley and Caversham are braced for similar flooding. | Homes were evacuated in Oxford overnight while places including Reading, Henley and Caversham are braced for similar flooding. |
| About 350,000 people in Gloucestershire without tap water are getting supplies, but could be cut off for up to 14 days. | |
| The Prime Minister said flood-hit councils would receive £46m. | |
| Gordon Brown also told the House of Commons he would push insurance firms to make payouts. | |
| Refused to move | Refused to move |
| The Environment Agency still has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn - in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester - two on the Thames around Oxford, and one on the Ock, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. | The Environment Agency still has six severe flood warnings in place - three on the Severn - in Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester - two on the Thames around Oxford, and one on the Ock, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. |
| BBC weather forecasters said flood-hit areas would see heavy rain of 10mm to 15mm on Thursday. | BBC weather forecasters said flood-hit areas would see heavy rain of 10mm to 15mm on Thursday. |
| These levels are not expected to make the flooding worse but could slow the speed at which waters recede. | These levels are not expected to make the flooding worse but could slow the speed at which waters recede. |
| Water levels in the Thames around Oxford rose throughout the night and are expected to peak later. | Water levels in the Thames around Oxford rose throughout the night and are expected to peak later. |
| See map of severe flood warnings | See map of severe flood warnings |
| Flooding is predicted to start in Henley on Wednesday afternoon and in Reading and Caversham in the evening. | Flooding is predicted to start in Henley on Wednesday afternoon and in Reading and Caversham in the evening. |
| Waters are also predicted to peak at Pangbourne, Purley-on-Thames and Mapledurham on Wednesday evening, with residents braced for floods. | Waters are also predicted to peak at Pangbourne, Purley-on-Thames and Mapledurham on Wednesday evening, with residents braced for floods. |
| Please extend my sympathy to all the many people whose homes have been damaged, livelihoods threatened, or who have been affected by the water and power shortages. The Queen's message of support | Please extend my sympathy to all the many people whose homes have been damaged, livelihoods threatened, or who have been affected by the water and power shortages. The Queen's message of support |
| It is predicted Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead will escape flooding while Marlow, Cookham, and Staines will see limited flooding later this week. | It is predicted Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead will escape flooding while Marlow, Cookham, and Staines will see limited flooding later this week. |
| Responding to questions in the House of Commons Mr Brown said all councils affected by the floods would receive 100% compensation. | Responding to questions in the House of Commons Mr Brown said all councils affected by the floods would receive 100% compensation. |
| He said that £46m had been made available by the government in the immediate future and spending on flood protection would rise to £800m. | He said that £46m had been made available by the government in the immediate future and spending on flood protection would rise to £800m. |
| Of those evacuated in Oxford, about 30 people went to a shelter set up at Oxford United Football Club's Kassam stadium while another 250 decided to stay with family and friends. | Of those evacuated in Oxford, about 30 people went to a shelter set up at Oxford United Football Club's Kassam stadium while another 250 decided to stay with family and friends. |
| Those who stayed in their homes told how water began flowing in at about 0300 BST. | Those who stayed in their homes told how water began flowing in at about 0300 BST. |
| Angela MacKeith, 61, said: "We are under 2ft of water throughout the house. | Angela MacKeith, 61, said: "We are under 2ft of water throughout the house. |
| "The awful thing is that this time last year we were in the same situation after a flash flood. | "The awful thing is that this time last year we were in the same situation after a flash flood. |
| "It appeared to be bubbling straight up from the water table." | "It appeared to be bubbling straight up from the water table." |
| Water covered the pitch at Abingdon Town FC in Oxfordshire Floods: At-a-glance Water operation nerve centre New alert in Cambridgeshire Oxford homes flooded Pumping continues in Glos | Water covered the pitch at Abingdon Town FC in Oxfordshire Floods: At-a-glance Water operation nerve centre New alert in Cambridgeshire Oxford homes flooded Pumping continues in Glos |
| The Environment Agency's Robert Runcie said it was not the Thames itself causing the problems in Oxford, but the tributaries flowing into it and creating the higher levels. | The Environment Agency's Robert Runcie said it was not the Thames itself causing the problems in Oxford, but the tributaries flowing into it and creating the higher levels. |
| There had been concerns about Osney Mead substation, which supplies power to Oxford city centre, but this has now receded, according to the county council. | There had been concerns about Osney Mead substation, which supplies power to Oxford city centre, but this has now receded, according to the county council. |
| In Gloucestershire, water supplies have been cut off after a treatment plant flooded. | |
| Severn Trent Water is supplying water tankers known as bowsers, while the Army is delivering three million bottles of water a day from a base Cheltenham racecourse. | Severn Trent Water is supplying water tankers known as bowsers, while the Army is delivering three million bottles of water a day from a base Cheltenham racecourse. |
| But Gloucestershire's Chief Constable Tim Brain said there had been instances of people "behaving most selfishly", using "very large receptacles" to empty bowsers and trying to resell water at inflated prices. | |
| "That is simply theft and it is being treated as theft," he said. | |
| 'War-time spirit' | |
| Long queues formed in supermarket car parks on Wednesday as people waited to collect their daily ration of six two-litre bottles of water. | Long queues formed in supermarket car parks on Wednesday as people waited to collect their daily ration of six two-litre bottles of water. |
| At the Tesco in Quedgeley residents said the crisis had fostered a war-time spirit. | At the Tesco in Quedgeley residents said the crisis had fostered a war-time spirit. |
| Reginald Davies, 91, who fought during the Second World War, said: "I did five days without water in Burma. | Reginald Davies, 91, who fought during the Second World War, said: "I did five days without water in Burma. |
| "I've seen men go mad from thirst. This is nothing. The worst thing is getting out of bed in the morning at 91 to get water." | "I've seen men go mad from thirst. This is nothing. The worst thing is getting out of bed in the morning at 91 to get water." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester Send us your experiences | HAVE YOUR SAY We must now look at proper regional controls and answers for surface water problems Ted Smith, Worcester Send us your experiences |
| Dr Brain said it could take seven to 14 days to restore supplies, but advised people to remain calm as there was enough water for everyone. | |
| Gloucestershire County Council's chief executive Peter Bungard said the council had received 10,000 calls for help and advice since Monday morning. | |
| He said there were about 25,000 elderly and vulnerable adults in the county and that 1,400 portable toilets had been ordered for those most in need. | |
| Gloucestershire Police said teenager Mitchell Taylor, 19, who has not been seen since the height of the floods was still missing. | Gloucestershire Police said teenager Mitchell Taylor, 19, who has not been seen since the height of the floods was still missing. |
| He disappeared after leaving a bar in Tewkesbury in the early hours of Saturday. It is not known if his disappearance is related to the floods. | He disappeared after leaving a bar in Tewkesbury in the early hours of Saturday. It is not known if his disappearance is related to the floods. |
| There have been calls for the government to seek money from the EU to help cover costs arising from the floods. | There have been calls for the government to seek money from the EU to help cover costs arising from the floods. |
| Conservative MEP for the South West Neil Parish said: "There is a solidarity fund that is set up for disasters and of course many countries including Greece and Sweden in 2005 had 82m euros from the fund. | Conservative MEP for the South West Neil Parish said: "There is a solidarity fund that is set up for disasters and of course many countries including Greece and Sweden in 2005 had 82m euros from the fund. |
| "There's money available to restore the infrastructure for drinking water, transport, telecommunications, health and education." | "There's money available to restore the infrastructure for drinking water, transport, telecommunications, health and education." |
| Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 | Environment Agency floodline: 0845 988 1188 |
| SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to Abingdon | SEVERE FLOOD WARNINGS IN PLACE The Severn: Severe warnings for Gloucester, Tewkesbury and Worcester The Thames: Severe warnings affecting Eynsham to Sandford Lock and also Little WittenhamThe Ock: Severe warnings from Charney Bassett to Abingdon |
| Return | Return |
| Have you been affected by the evacuation? How are the drinking water supplies so far? The BBC would like to hear from anyone affected by the floods. Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences. | Have you been affected by the evacuation? How are the drinking water supplies so far? The BBC would like to hear from anyone affected by the floods. Please use the form below to tell us about your experiences. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124.Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial 61124.Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |