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| Flood warnings as more storms forecast for New Year's Day | Flood warnings as more storms forecast for New Year's Day |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Flood warnings have been issued across England and Wales as forecasters predict more heavy rain and strong winds for the first day of 2014. | Flood warnings have been issued across England and Wales as forecasters predict more heavy rain and strong winds for the first day of 2014. |
| The Environment Agency said communities in Cumbria and parts of southern England were particularly at risk. | The Environment Agency said communities in Cumbria and parts of southern England were particularly at risk. |
| Hundreds of households are still recovering from storms that caused floods and power cuts over Christmas. | Hundreds of households are still recovering from storms that caused floods and power cuts over Christmas. |
| Scottish and Southern Energy customers who faced a prolonged blackout will be entitled to compensation payments. | |
| A statement on the company's website said domestic and business customers without power for 48 hours could claim £54 plus an extra £54 for every subsequent 12 hours. | |
| In total, 130,000 customers had power restored, but mostly that was within 48 hours. A spokeswoman was unable to say how many customers would be eligible for payments. | |
| In light of the latest forecasts, local authorities have been preparing emergency accommodation. | |
| The Local Government Association urged people to look on council websites in England and Wales for details of emergency accommodation in case rising waters force them from their homes. | |
| 'Heightened risk' | 'Heightened risk' |
| The Environment Agency has seven flood warnings in place in England and Wales, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required. | The Environment Agency has seven flood warnings in place in England and Wales, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required. |
| Counties at increased risk of flooding are Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Cumbria. | Counties at increased risk of flooding are Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Cumbria. |
| A spokeswoman said: "On New Year's Day, heavy rain is expected which could cause flooding to communities in the south-east and south-west of England. | A spokeswoman said: "On New Year's Day, heavy rain is expected which could cause flooding to communities in the south-east and south-west of England. |
| "There is a heightened flood risk for parts of south-east, southern and south-west England and Cumbria." | "There is a heightened flood risk for parts of south-east, southern and south-west England and Cumbria." |
| The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - meaning "be aware" - for rain for areas across the UK. | The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - meaning "be aware" - for rain for areas across the UK. |
| Helicopter rescue | Helicopter rescue |
| BBC Weather's Matt Taylor said that although north-eastern areas would start dry, gale force winds and heavy rain would sweep in from the south-west and Wales. | BBC Weather's Matt Taylor said that although north-eastern areas would start dry, gale force winds and heavy rain would sweep in from the south-west and Wales. |
| "Most areas will experience a spell of several hours of rain tomorrow. The heaviest will be in the south and west," he said. | "Most areas will experience a spell of several hours of rain tomorrow. The heaviest will be in the south and west," he said. |
| The latest warnings came as a clean-up operation was underway in south and west Scotland following widespread flooding. | The latest warnings came as a clean-up operation was underway in south and west Scotland following widespread flooding. |
| Seven people were airlifted by a Royal Navy helicopter from a farmhouse near Closeburn in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway on Monday after torrential rains caused extensive disruption. | Seven people were airlifted by a Royal Navy helicopter from a farmhouse near Closeburn in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway on Monday after torrential rains caused extensive disruption. |
| And three people were rescued by firefighters at Whitesands in Dumfries after they were cut off by the deep floodwater and rising river. | And three people were rescued by firefighters at Whitesands in Dumfries after they were cut off by the deep floodwater and rising river. |
| During the storms over Christmas, more than 150,000 properties across the UK were left without power, many for several days. | During the storms over Christmas, more than 150,000 properties across the UK were left without power, many for several days. |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said some power companies had "let their customers down badly" by failing to implement contingency plans. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said some power companies had "let their customers down badly" by failing to implement contingency plans. |