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Thousands hit by floods and power cuts at Christmas | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Flooding is causing difficulties for thousands of people in southern England after stormy weather lashed the UK. | Flooding is causing difficulties for thousands of people in southern England after stormy weather lashed the UK. |
Three severe flood warnings are in place in Surrey and Dorset, with many people rescued from homes overnight. | |
Meanwhile, thousands of properties, mostly in southern England, are spending Christmas morning without electricity. | |
Flooding at a Gatwick Airport power station saw Tuesday flights cancelled and anger among stranded passengers. | Flooding at a Gatwick Airport power station saw Tuesday flights cancelled and anger among stranded passengers. |
Armed police had to be called in to man information desks and deal with furious passengers, one man told the BBC. | |
The airport is operating a full service on Christmas Day. | |
Risk of flooding | |
The River Mole in Surrey has burst its banks in several areas and an Environment Agency severe flood warning - which means a danger to life - has been issued for Leatherhead. | |
A "multi-agency response" to flooding is also taking place in Godalming on the River Wey. | A "multi-agency response" to flooding is also taking place in Godalming on the River Wey. |
The Environment Agency said the River Medway in Kent had continued to rise and flood risks would continue for three days. | The Environment Agency said the River Medway in Kent had continued to rise and flood risks would continue for three days. |
Kent Police said the river had flooded areas from Tonbridge to Allington, with Mereworth and Yalding - where 76 people were rescued by the Coastguard from a flooded caravan park - badly affected. | Kent Police said the river had flooded areas from Tonbridge to Allington, with Mereworth and Yalding - where 76 people were rescued by the Coastguard from a flooded caravan park - badly affected. |
The Coastguard said the majority of residents were taken to a leisure centre in the early evening in small boats and four-by-four vehicles. | The Coastguard said the majority of residents were taken to a leisure centre in the early evening in small boats and four-by-four vehicles. |
In other developments: | |
The power cut at Gatwick's north terminal was caused by flooding on the Mole which affected airfield substations and saw more than 30 flights cancelled and police called in to man information desks. | |
Around 90 flights are due to leave Gatwick on Christmas Day - including some services rescheduled from Tuesday - and passengers are advised to check with their airlines before setting off for the airport. | Around 90 flights are due to leave Gatwick on Christmas Day - including some services rescheduled from Tuesday - and passengers are advised to check with their airlines before setting off for the airport. |
Gatwick said: "Due to adverse weather in the last 48 hours there are still power outages in parts of our North Terminal. These are causing delays to departing flights and our engineers are on site rectifying this." | Gatwick said: "Due to adverse weather in the last 48 hours there are still power outages in parts of our North Terminal. These are causing delays to departing flights and our engineers are on site rectifying this." |
It added that all flights would continue to be operated through the South Terminal except for British Airways. | It added that all flights would continue to be operated through the South Terminal except for British Airways. |
Joe Pattinson, 35, from Wokingham in Surrey, had been due to fly from Gatwick to Barcelona but ended up returning home amid the "absolute confusion". | |
"We'd been waiting for three hours in the queue. There was no information and we couldn't find anyone to explain what we should be doing. Eventually three armed police turned up to try and calm people down." | |
Jamie Whiteford arrived at Gatwick at 05:30 on Christmas Eve and spent more than 12 hours waiting at the airport for his flight to Edinburgh to depart before it was eventually cancelled. | Jamie Whiteford arrived at Gatwick at 05:30 on Christmas Eve and spent more than 12 hours waiting at the airport for his flight to Edinburgh to depart before it was eventually cancelled. |
"Eventually all [flights] were cancelled and this caused angry scenes at a flight to Naples which involved a police presence and very confused and untrained staff." | |
The Energy Networks Association said about 75,000 homes were still without power across the UK and engineers were working through the night to get provision running for Christmas Day. | |
Power supplier Southern Electric said some 19,500 of its customers, most of them in South Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex, could remain without power overnight. | |
Engineers will restart work on Christmas Day, a spokesperson for the company said. | Engineers will restart work on Christmas Day, a spokesperson for the company said. |
UK Power Networks, which supplies power to people in the south of England, said there were more than 32,000 without power in the South East and the east of England. | |
Meanwhile, about 800 homes in the north of Scotland are still without power, mainly around the Deeside area, Buchan, Elgin, Wick and the Western Isles. | Meanwhile, about 800 homes in the north of Scotland are still without power, mainly around the Deeside area, Buchan, Elgin, Wick and the Western Isles. |
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said about 400 of its staff are working to reconnect the properties this evening. | Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said about 400 of its staff are working to reconnect the properties this evening. |
Winds gusting up to 80 mph caused disruption to Christmas travel in Scotland, with the Northern and Western Isles hit by ferry and flight cancellations. | Winds gusting up to 80 mph caused disruption to Christmas travel in Scotland, with the Northern and Western Isles hit by ferry and flight cancellations. |
There has been heavy rain in Northern Ireland, while winds in Wales have reached 78mph in Pembrey and 77mph in Aberdaron. | There has been heavy rain in Northern Ireland, while winds in Wales have reached 78mph in Pembrey and 77mph in Aberdaron. |
More than 10 flood warnings remain in place across mainland Scotland, with high tide being accompanied by heavy rainfall, but the number is beginning to fall. | More than 10 flood warnings remain in place across mainland Scotland, with high tide being accompanied by heavy rainfall, but the number is beginning to fall. |
The Environment Agency has about 120 flood warnings in place for England and Wales - signifying that flooding is "expected", and more than 200 flood alerts, where flooding is "possible". | The Environment Agency has about 120 flood warnings in place for England and Wales - signifying that flooding is "expected", and more than 200 flood alerts, where flooding is "possible". |
BBC Radio Cumbria are reporting that more than 1,000 homes are without electricity in the county. Electricity North West says there is a problem with overhead lines, probably caused by strong winds. | BBC Radio Cumbria are reporting that more than 1,000 homes are without electricity in the county. Electricity North West says there is a problem with overhead lines, probably caused by strong winds. |
Winds are expected to ease today, before heavy rain and gales pick up again on Friday. | |