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Woman killed by tree amid more storms Woman killed by tree amid more storms
(about 1 hour later)
A woman has been killed by a falling tree in Exeter as floods and high winds battered the South West of England.A woman has been killed by a falling tree in Exeter as floods and high winds battered the South West of England.
Two other people were hurt when the large spruce tree fell, police said.Two other people were hurt when the large spruce tree fell, police said.
Severe flood warnings were issued for Lostwithiel, Helston, Polperro and Perranporth in Cornwall and people were urged to leave their homes - although the situation is said to be improving. Two severe flood warnings remain in place for parts of Cornwall, although the situation is said to be improving.
The Environment Agency has more than 200 flood warnings in England and some 240 flood alerts in England and Wales. There are more than 200 other flood warnings in place across England - including 100 in the South West and 75 in the Midlands. Parts of some motorways remain closed.
Severe flood warnings mean severe flooding and danger to life. Flood warnings mean people should take action because flooding is expected, while flood alerts indicate people should prepare for possible flooding. The href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/motorways" >M25 is closed clockwise at the QE2 bridge in Kent because of high winds, and parts of the M50 of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire are closed because of flooding.
Forecasters said the weather system bringing the rain was now moving into the Midlands, northern England and southern Scotland. Staffordshire fire service says it is dealing with a high number of weather related calls, including flooding, around the Stone and Tean areas. These include calls to cars trapped in water.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the woman was seriously injured when a tree fell in Western Way at about 23:50 GMT. She died after being taken to hospital in Exeter. The two other people were treated for minor injuries. Flooding has also closed the A34 southbound in Stone and part of the B5017 in Uttoxeter.
The BBC Weather Centre said persistent rain would continue in the north of England and into Scotland on Sunday, turning heavy in places but clearing quite quickly from southern parts.
However, following a drier interlude, further heavy rain is expected to affect Wales and south-western parts of England during Sunday afternoon and evening.
Given existing levels of saturation, the public should be aware of the risk of localised flooding, forecasters said.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the dead woman was seriously injured when a tree fell in Western Way at about 23:50 GMT. She died after being taken to hospital in Exeter. The two other people were treated for minor injuries.
Inspector Andrea Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News the woman was 21 and had been living in a small tent placed next to the wall at the roadside when the tree fell on it.Inspector Andrea Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News the woman was 21 and had been living in a small tent placed next to the wall at the roadside when the tree fell on it.
In other developments:In other developments:
  • Six people have been rescued from caravans at Blue Anchor near Minehead in Somerset by fire and rescue crews.
  • Roads have been closed across the region due to flooding. Exmouth in Devon has been cut off, with the A376 closed by police
  • href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/motorways" >A number of motorways have been affected including the M25 which is closed at the QE2 bridge in Kent due to high winds, and M50 in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire due to flooding
    •
  • The RNLI's south west flood rescue team have been asked to assist the emergency services in Exeter, Devon, with two inshore lifeboats
  • National Rail said there were delays between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids due to flooding and a landslip. The replacement buses have been cancelled on some routes
  • Network Rail said trains were likely to be disrupted between Exeter, Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads until Monday
  • A body thought to be that of a man who fell into a canal in fog in Watford, Hertfordshire, has been found
  • Six people have been rescued from caravans at Blue Anchor near Minehead in Somerset by fire and rescue crews.
  • Roads have been closed across the south west region due to flooding. Exmouth in Devon has been cut off, with the A376 closed by police
  • The RNLI's south west flood rescue team have been asked to assist the emergency services in Exeter, Devon, with two inshore lifeboats
  • National Rail said there were delays between Newton Abbot and Exeter St Davids due to flooding and a landslip. The replacement buses have been cancelled on some routes
  • Network Rail said trains were likely to be disrupted between Exeter, Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads until Monday
  • A body thought to be that of a man who fell into a canal in fog in Watford, Hertfordshire, has been found
Emergency services, rescue crews and the Environment Agency worked with Cornwall Council in a control room during Saturday evening. In Cornwall, emergency services, rescue crews and the Environment Agency worked with Cornwall Council in a control room during Saturday evening.
Cornwall Council duty director David Owens said the situation was starting to improve "quite considerably" in the county.Cornwall Council duty director David Owens said the situation was starting to improve "quite considerably" in the county.
"We've had quite an evening of it and significant flooding problems in several settlements but we're getting through the worst of it now," he said.
Emergency services, the Environment Agency and council bosses worked in a single control room throughout the night, with about 400 people helping affected communities and spreading messages of safety to people.
Mr Owens said: "Cornwall Council has 230 staff out on the ground. We're starting, because the situation is improving, to be able to stand some of the crews down, as the weather cleared from the west to the east we've been able to stand down from the west."
Contaminated water
Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Taylor of Devon and Cornwall Police said the situation was stabilising but warned people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.Assistant Chief Constable Sharon Taylor of Devon and Cornwall Police said the situation was stabilising but warned people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.
"We have particularly found that people are still trying to get home and make their way to their properties, but of course some of this water is now contaminated with sewage, and of course that could cause people health problems if they continue to ignore the advice," she said."We have particularly found that people are still trying to get home and make their way to their properties, but of course some of this water is now contaminated with sewage, and of course that could cause people health problems if they continue to ignore the advice," she said.
Environment Minister Richard Benyon said: "The ground is absolutely sodden at the moment and any more rain we might have on Monday or Tuesday doesn't have to be very much to add to the risk.
"We want to give [the public] the assurance that all agencies - the Environment Agency, local authorities, the emergency services - being coordinated at a local level and by government, are on the case here. We want to get people back in their homes as soon as possible."
Alan Crockford, a pub landlord in Polperro, said there had been warnings but "nobody knew it would get this bad".Alan Crockford, a pub landlord in Polperro, said there had been warnings but "nobody knew it would get this bad".
He said: "I was actually in my house and I heard a roar, and just looked outside the window and that was the first bit of water that just, just came down the hill, like a river running straight down the road.
"We were given warnings from Floodline, and they just said like to take care, we were never given any firm warning that you had to evacuate and no one knew to expect it this bad."
The Met Office has been forecasting heavy rain and strong winds across all parts of the country over the weekend and has a yellow warning in place.
The Environment Agency said strong winds would increase the risk of flash flooding as drainage channels were likely to become blocked with wind-blown debris.
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Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy

Map Key

  • Land
  • Cloud
  • Lakes, Rivers & Sea

Fog

Light Heavy

Frost

Light Heavy

Pressure Fronts

Cold Warm Occluded

Rain

Light Heavy Extreme

Snow

Light Heavy
Temperature tab onlyTemperature tab only

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather

Temperature (°C)

More details from BBC Weather
BBC forecasters said South West of England had seen between one and two inches of rain (25mm to 50mm) during Saturday evening. He said: "We were given warnings from Floodline, and they just said like to take care, we were never given any firm warning that you had to evacuate and no one knew to expect it this bad."
The weather system bringing the rain is now moving into the Midlands, northern England and southern Scotland during Sunday, bringing 20 to 40mm of rain to those areas. The Environment Agency's severe flood warnings mean severe flooding and danger to life. Flood warnings mean people should take action because flooding is expected, while flood alerts indicate people should prepare for possible flooding.
Strong winds of between 60mph and 70mph are affecting the South of England but are expected to die down by mid morning. As well as the two severe flood warnings and 200 flood warnings across England, there are currently 251 flood alerts across England and Wales. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Sepa, has href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding.aspx" >three flood alerts in place.
The areas affected by heavy rain on Saturday will see some respite, before further rain starts pushing into the south west, Wales and southern England during Sunday morning. The Met Office has been forecasting heavy rain and strong winds across all parts of the country over the weekend and href="http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/" >has a yellow warning in place.
The Environment Agency said strong winds would increase the risk of flash flooding as drainage channels were likely to become blocked with wind-blown debris.
On Thursday, a man died in floods after he became trapped in his car under a bridge in Chew Stoke near Bath.On Thursday, a man died in floods after he became trapped in his car under a bridge in Chew Stoke near Bath.
Is your neighbourhood flooded? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.Is your neighbourhood flooded? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below.
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