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Woman feared trapped in collapsed house after heavy snow and rain Body found after house collapses in heavy rain
(about 7 hours later)
Police are investigating whether a woman is trapped inside a house in Cornwall after part of the property collapsed as heavy rain and snow caused havoc in parts of the UK. Rescuers searching for a woman who was trapped under a landslide at her property in Cornwall have found a body in the wreckage, Cornwall fire and rescue service has said.
Devon and Cornwall police say Susan Norman, who is in her 60s, has not been seen or heard of since 6pm on Thursday. Part of Susan Norman's property collapsed in Looe as heavy rain and snow caused havoc in parts of the UK.
Her house in Looe, south Cornwall, was hit by a landslide and floodwater on Friday morning. More than a dozen people living in the street have been evacuated. Police were using a sniffer dog to search for Norman in the wreckage. A spokesman said it was likely to be a slow and laborious process. Norman, in her 60s, had not been seen or heard from since 6pm on Thursday. Her house was hit by a landslide and floodwater on Friday morning.
In north Cornwall a woman suffered life-threatening injuries when she was thrown from a VW Polo and ended up under a van. The accident happened in driving rain on the A13 near Kilkhampton on Friday morning. More than a dozen people living in the street have been evacuated. Police were using a sniffer dog to search the wreckage.
In north Cornwall, another woman suffered life-threatening injuries when she was thrown from a VW Polo and ended up under a van. The accident happened in driving rain on the A39 near Kilkhampton on Friday morning.
Emergency services are already responding to a surge in weather-related call-outs around the country because of the flooding and blizzard conditions, with government agencies issuing a string of warnings urging the public to take care on the roads.Emergency services are already responding to a surge in weather-related call-outs around the country because of the flooding and blizzard conditions, with government agencies issuing a string of warnings urging the public to take care on the roads.
More flooding is expected in the south-west as Thursday's heavy rain continues to pour throughout the day and overnight. More flooding is expected in the south-west as heavy rain continues to pour throughout the day and overnight.
Snow is expected to blanket everywhere north of the M4 corridor, with up to 20cm (8in) hitting the worst-affected areas of north-west England, north Wales and south-west Scotland.Snow is expected to blanket everywhere north of the M4 corridor, with up to 20cm (8in) hitting the worst-affected areas of north-west England, north Wales and south-west Scotland.
Higher areas could even see up to 40cm (16in) fall, while bitterly cold gale-force winds will sweep across Britain creating blizzard-like conditions and plunging temperatures down to well below freezing. Higher areas could even see a 40cm fall, while bitterly cold gale-force winds will sweep across Britain, creating blizzard-like conditions and plunging temperatures down to well below freezing.
Heavy rain sweeping across Northern Ireland will turn increasingly to snow with up to 30cm (12in) across the hills of Down and Antrim, while on the east coast rain and sleet could cause localised flooding. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has already reported road closures because of stranded vehicles on the A8 near Newtownabbey. Heavy rain sweeping across Northern Ireland will turn increasingly to snow with up to 30cm across the hills of Down and Antrim, while on the east coast rain and sleet could cause localised flooding.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has already reported road closures because of stranded vehicles on the A8 near Newtownabbey.
James Wilby, a forecaster for Meteogroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It is really just nasty conditions across most of the UK. The snow will fall from the M4 northwards, quite lightly in the south but heavily in the north.James Wilby, a forecaster for Meteogroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It is really just nasty conditions across most of the UK. The snow will fall from the M4 northwards, quite lightly in the south but heavily in the north.
"Along with the heavy rain and flooding in the south-west, there will no doubt be a lot of disruption for the UK today. The heavy rain, snow and strong winds will continue into the weekend, with the heavy snow spreading south to East Anglia and Bristol tomorrow. "Along with the heavy rain and flooding in the south-west, there will no doubt be a lot of disruption for the UK today [Friday].
"The heavy rain, snow and strong winds will continue into the weekend, with the heavy snow spreading south to East Anglia and Bristol tomorrow.
"And I'm sorry to say that there is no sign of things getting any better next week. It's going to remain cold and bleak.""And I'm sorry to say that there is no sign of things getting any better next week. It's going to remain cold and bleak."
The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings urging the public to be prepared for "severe disruption" to transport and energy services.The Met Office has issued a number of severe weather warnings urging the public to be prepared for "severe disruption" to transport and energy services.
The Environment Agency has 18 flood alerts in place along the south-west coast warning of expected flooding, with a further 80 alerts issued to areas at risk. The Environment Agency has 18 flood alerts in place along the south-west coast, warning of expected flooding, with a further 80 alerts issued to areas at risk.
Between 4cm and 6cm (1.6in-2.4in) is set to fall over southern Devon and Cornwall on Friday, and up to 10cm (4in) on exposed southern slopes. Last night Cornwall council set up a designated control room to handle calls. Between 4cm and 6cm is set to fall over southern Devon and Cornwall on Friday, and up to 10cm on exposed southern slopes. On Thursday night Cornwall council set up a designated control room to handle calls.
A spokesman, Dave Owens, said the county's fire and rescue service had received more than 50 calls, and eight properties had flooded. He said: "The main problem still appears to be surface water flooding which is continuing to affect a number of areas across Cornwall." A spokesman, Dave Owens, said the county's fire and rescue service had received more than 50 calls, and eight properties had been flooded.
There are reports of flooding across the west of the county, including around Newlyn and Penzance, as well as in Mevagissey in mid-Cornwall – a community still recovering from the impact of last year's torrential downpours. He said: "The main problem still appears to be surface water flooding, which is continuing to affect a number of areas across Cornwall."
The Environment Agency spokesman Ben Johnstone said: "We strongly urge people to sign up to flood warnings on the Environment Agency website, keep a close eye on local weather forecasts and be prepared for possible flooding. We also ask that people stay safe and not try to wade or drive through any deep water." There were reports of flooding across the west of the county, including around Newlyn and Penzance, as well as in Mevagissey in mid-Cornwall – a community still recovering from the impact of last year's torrential downpours.
Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: "It's going to be a real witch's brew of driving wind, rain and snow, which will inevitably cause disruption on the roads. Drivers should be well prepared as even short journeys can quickly turn bad." Environment Agency spokesman Ben Johnstone said: "We strongly urge people to sign up to flood warnings on the Environment Agency website, keep a close eye on local weather forecasts and be prepared for possible flooding. We also ask that people stay safe and not try to wade or drive through any deep water."
Darron Burness, the AA's head of special operations, said: "It's going to be a real witches' brew of driving wind, rain and snow, which will inevitably cause disruption on the roads. Drivers should be well prepared, as even short journeys can quickly turn bad."