This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6914876.stm
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Fears as floods loom in new areas | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| See map of severe flood warnings | See map of severe flood warnings |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 annual spending on flood protection would rise to £800m by 2010/11. | He said that £46m had been made available by the government in the immediate future and annual spending on flood protection would rise to £800m by 2010/11. |
| Meanwhile, the RSPCA has launched an appeal for donations, saying the rescue of pets and farm animals has already cost £300,000 and involved the biggest deployment of its staff for a generation. | |
| 'Bubbling up' | |
| 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." |
| 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. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I having trouble getting to water as I don't drive and have three small children and I can't get to supermarkets to get bottled water Samantha, Gloucester Send us your experiences | HAVE YOUR SAY I having trouble getting to water as I don't drive and have three small children and I can't get to supermarkets to get bottled water Samantha, Gloucester Send us your experiences |
| In Gloucestershire, water supplies have been cut off after a treatment plant flooded. | 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. | 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. | "That is simply theft and it is being treated as theft," he said. |
| 'War-time spirit' | '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." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| RAIL DISRUPTION Central Trains - services between Great Malvern and Hereford suspendedFirst Great Western - services suspended between Oxford and Didcot, and Oxford and WorcesterVirgin trains - services between Oxford and Reading suspended Latest from BBC Travel | RAIL DISRUPTION Central Trains - services between Great Malvern and Hereford suspendedFirst Great Western - services suspended between Oxford and Didcot, and Oxford and WorcesterVirgin trains - services between Oxford and Reading suspended Latest from BBC Travel |
| 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's Solidarity Fund to help cover costs arising from the floods. | There have been calls for the government to seek money from the EU's Solidarity Fund to help cover costs arising from the floods. |
| Conservative MEP for the South West Neil Parish said: "There's money available to restore the infrastructure for drinking water, transport, telecommunications, health and education." | Conservative MEP for the South West Neil Parish said: "There's money available to restore the infrastructure for drinking water, transport, telecommunications, health and education." |
| The European Commission's Anthony Gooch told the BBC: "If Britain wants money from the Solidarity Fund then there's every chance it will get it. A major disaster of these proportions is exactly the sort of unfortunate event that we created this facility for." | The European Commission's Anthony Gooch told the BBC: "If Britain wants money from the Solidarity Fund then there's every chance it will get it. A major disaster of these proportions is exactly the sort of unfortunate event that we created this facility for." |
| 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 |