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Christmas storms leave thousands of homes flooded or without power Christmas storms leave thousands of homes flooded or without power
(35 minutes later)
Many people are facing a miserable Christmas Day in the wake of the stormy weather, with thousands either evacuated from their homes or left without power.Many people are facing a miserable Christmas Day in the wake of the stormy weather, with thousands either evacuated from their homes or left without power.
This comes after a number of deaths, thought to be related to the bad weather, in the days running up to Christmas.This comes after a number of deaths, thought to be related to the bad weather, in the days running up to Christmas.
Fifty thousand homes across the UK were still without power on Christmas morning, the Energy Networks Association said.Fifty thousand homes across the UK were still without power on Christmas morning, the Energy Networks Association said.
With many families' turkey dinner ruined, UK Power Networks offered to pay for Christmas meals in local pubs or restaurants for people whose supplies remain cut off.With many families' turkey dinner ruined, UK Power Networks offered to pay for Christmas meals in local pubs or restaurants for people whose supplies remain cut off.
The Environment Agency (EA) has three severe warnings in place in the south-east and south-west – the highest level of alert, which means there is a danger to life.
Firefighters broke their strike in parts of England because of the storms. Members of the Fire Brigades Union in Surrey and Kent were recalled to duty under the terms of an agreement between the union, the employers and the government.Firefighters broke their strike in parts of England because of the storms. Members of the Fire Brigades Union in Surrey and Kent were recalled to duty under the terms of an agreement between the union, the employers and the government.
In the early hours, around 90 people were evacuated from their homes on the river Stour near Bournemouth. Police began to evacuate residents of the Ilford Bridge home park shortly after 3am following a severe flood warning from the EA. They were taken to the Boscombe day centre. People were also evacuated from the Beaulieu Garden Park home in Christchurch, Dorset. The Environment Agency has decreased the number of severe flood warnings from three to two, both in the south-west – at Beaulieu Garden Park home and Iford Bridge home park, where evacuations have already taken place. There are 102 flood warnings and 200 flood alerts.
The Coastguard joined Kent fire and rescue service to rescue people from the Little Venice caravan and marina park in Yalding after rising waters from the river Medway cut them off.The Coastguard joined Kent fire and rescue service to rescue people from the Little Venice caravan and marina park in Yalding after rising waters from the river Medway cut them off.
By 8pm the water was chest-deep, the Coastguard said, and a helicopter was brought in as a precaution while the last 21 people were led to safety from rising flood waters and listing caravans.By 8pm the water was chest-deep, the Coastguard said, and a helicopter was brought in as a precaution while the last 21 people were led to safety from rising flood waters and listing caravans.
The EA had 126 flood warnings across England and Wales on Christmas morning, mainly in the south-east, the south-west and the Midlands. A further 218 flood alerts were also in place, with 90 in the south-east alone.The EA had 126 flood warnings across England and Wales on Christmas morning, mainly in the south-east, the south-west and the Midlands. A further 218 flood alerts were also in place, with 90 in the south-east alone.
The EA said that by Tuesday night 150 properties had been flooded in England, mainly in the south and focused in Surrey and Kent.The EA said that by Tuesday night 150 properties had been flooded in England, mainly in the south and focused in Surrey and Kent.
Homes were evacuated in Dorking, Leatherhead and Guildford in Surrey, and in Tonbridge, Kent.Homes were evacuated in Dorking, Leatherhead and Guildford in Surrey, and in Tonbridge, Kent.
About 40 properties were evacuated in Godalming because of concerns over the height of the river Wey, Surrey police said, and a rest centre was set up for residents.About 40 properties were evacuated in Godalming because of concerns over the height of the river Wey, Surrey police said, and a rest centre was set up for residents.
Kirk Waite, a forecaster at the Met Office, said Christmas Day would be much quieter weather-wise.Kirk Waite, a forecaster at the Met Office, said Christmas Day would be much quieter weather-wise.
He said: "We do have a few showers around and they could be heavy at times, and some of them might bring more hail, which will give a whiteness to things."He said: "We do have a few showers around and they could be heavy at times, and some of them might bring more hail, which will give a whiteness to things."
Waite said another storm coming on Friday was not expected to be as severe as the one that had passed, but heavy rain would bring additional problems to places already dealing with floods.Waite said another storm coming on Friday was not expected to be as severe as the one that had passed, but heavy rain would bring additional problems to places already dealing with floods.
Tragedy has struck in the runup to Christmas Day, with the bad weather thought to have contributed to a number of deaths. On 23 December, a man's body was pulled from the river Rothay in Ambleside, Cumbria. The 48-year-old, from the Hest Bank area of Lancaster, was swept away by the fast-moving water after he and his dog were spotted in the river at 2.25pm.Tragedy has struck in the runup to Christmas Day, with the bad weather thought to have contributed to a number of deaths. On 23 December, a man's body was pulled from the river Rothay in Ambleside, Cumbria. The 48-year-old, from the Hest Bank area of Lancaster, was swept away by the fast-moving water after he and his dog were spotted in the river at 2.25pm.
A woman also died in a river in Gwynedd, north Wales. Another woman died and a man was seriously hurt in a car crash near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, just after 9.30pm on Monday. The crash happened in difficult weather conditions, West Midlands ambulance service said.A woman also died in a river in Gwynedd, north Wales. Another woman died and a man was seriously hurt in a car crash near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, just after 9.30pm on Monday. The crash happened in difficult weather conditions, West Midlands ambulance service said.
A man died in a multiple-vehicle crash near Bodmin in Cornwall on Sunday night.A man died in a multiple-vehicle crash near Bodmin in Cornwall on Sunday night.
In Ireland, a man in his 40s died when his car hit a wall at Moyleen, near Loughrea, Co Galway, at around 2pm on Monday. Gardaí in Galway were warning of severe winds.In Ireland, a man in his 40s died when his car hit a wall at Moyleen, near Loughrea, Co Galway, at around 2pm on Monday. Gardaí in Galway were warning of severe winds.
Travellers trying to get home on Christmas Eve fought treacherous conditions on the roads and suffered major delays as the rail network was brought to its knees.Travellers trying to get home on Christmas Eve fought treacherous conditions on the roads and suffered major delays as the rail network was brought to its knees.
There was chaos at Gatwick airport in West Sussex after a power cut at the North Terminal led to cancellations and delays, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The airport said normal service would resume on Christmas Day.There was chaos at Gatwick airport in West Sussex after a power cut at the North Terminal led to cancellations and delays, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The airport said normal service would resume on Christmas Day.
EasyJet said it would be operating a limited number of flights from Gatwick on Christmas Day to replace ones that should have operated on Christmas Eve. It said it would be unable to schedule any further flights on Christmas Day because of limited capacity at airports and crew availability.EasyJet said it would be operating a limited number of flights from Gatwick on Christmas Day to replace ones that should have operated on Christmas Eve. It said it would be unable to schedule any further flights on Christmas Day because of limited capacity at airports and crew availability.
The flooding will leave Christmas cancelled for many people. Gary Button, manager of the Old Mill hotel in Batheaston near Bath, told the BBC he had to cancel more than 50 Christmas dinners after the river Avon flooded the property.The flooding will leave Christmas cancelled for many people. Gary Button, manager of the Old Mill hotel in Batheaston near Bath, told the BBC he had to cancel more than 50 Christmas dinners after the river Avon flooded the property.
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