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| 'Exceptional weather' with rain, wind and high tides to hit UK | 'Exceptional weather' with rain, wind and high tides to hit UK |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A period of "exceptional weather" bringing rain, wind and high tides is set to hit the UK, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. | |
| It came as the Environment Agency issued 11 severe flood warnings - indicating a danger to life - for south-west England on Friday morning. | |
| Tidal flooding is expected in "numerous locations" due to large waves, high tides and strong winds. | |
| Mr Paterson said ministers were working to ensure all agencies were prepared. | Mr Paterson said ministers were working to ensure all agencies were prepared. |
| He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which the UK's flood response was discussed. | He was speaking after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, in which the UK's flood response was discussed. |
| Mr Paterson said the coast would be dangerous. | Mr Paterson said the coast would be dangerous. |
| Cobra, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A in Whitehall, brings together ministers, civil servants and others such as the police and Environment Agency - depending on the nature of the emergency it is responding to. | Cobra, named after Cabinet Office Briefing Room A in Whitehall, brings together ministers, civil servants and others such as the police and Environment Agency - depending on the nature of the emergency it is responding to. |
| Dozens of flood warnings are in place in England, Wales and Scotland. | Dozens of flood warnings are in place in England, Wales and Scotland. |
| 'Highly dangerous' | 'Highly dangerous' |
| The severe flood warnings were issued for coastal areas of Devon, parts of the River Taw and River Torridge and communities near the Taw Torridge Estuary. | |
| High water is expected to be about 07:00 GMT on Friday. Conditions are expected to be at their worst during that time and for two to four hours either side of it. | |
| The severe flood warnings have also been issued for parts of the north and south Cornwall coasts. | |
| The Environment Agency's head of strategy, Pete Fox, said: "We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend. | The Environment Agency's head of strategy, Pete Fox, said: "We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend. |
| "Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline." | "Coastal paths and promenades could be highly dangerous as there is an increased risk of being swept out to sea. People are warned to stay away from the shoreline." |
| Mr Paterson chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils "are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities". | Mr Paterson chaired meetings throughout Wednesday to ensure the Environment Agency and local councils "are on the ground and offering all possible support to their communities". |
| "We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said. | "We remain in touch with local councils in at-risk areas," he said. |
| "With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued." | "With a number of flood alerts for Thursday, including several areas which have previously been flooded, I urge everyone in affected areas to sign up to Environment Agency flood warnings and follow the advice issued." |
| Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded. | Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while numerous properties and roads have been flooded. |
| Many of the flood warnings on Wednesday - and those issued for Thursday - were in south-west England, where Devon and Cornwall Police appealed for people not to enter the sea during the bad weather. | |
| Flooding disrupted a number of train services on Thursday morning, with no services running between Teddington, south-west London, and Shepperton in Surrey. | Flooding disrupted a number of train services on Thursday morning, with no services running between Teddington, south-west London, and Shepperton in Surrey. |
| There was also disruption between Fareham and Southampton Central/Eastleigh in Hampshire, because of flooding at Hedge End and Botley. | There was also disruption between Fareham and Southampton Central/Eastleigh in Hampshire, because of flooding at Hedge End and Botley. |
| In Wales, the River Towy in Carmarthen burst its banks after continuing heavy rain. | In Wales, the River Towy in Carmarthen burst its banks after continuing heavy rain. |
| The Thames Barrier in London has been closed to protect people and property along the river, the Environment Agency said. | |
| The bad weather has led to power cuts for 319 properties in Surrey and Hampshire, energy supplier SSE said. | The bad weather has led to power cuts for 319 properties in Surrey and Hampshire, energy supplier SSE said. |
| A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing. | A woman drowned in the sea near Croyde, north Devon, on Tuesday. It is believed she had been swimming or surfing. |
| And the search for a 27-year-old man washed out to sea near Porthleven, Cornwall, in the early hours of New Year's Day was called off after a body was found on the beach. | And the search for a 27-year-old man washed out to sea near Porthleven, Cornwall, in the early hours of New Year's Day was called off after a body was found on the beach. |
| Rescue teams have also been searching for: | Rescue teams have also been searching for: |
| Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people - including a baby - were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick. | Severe flooding hit several Devon villages on Wednesday and six people - including a baby - were rescued from cars in three separate incidents in Fenny Bridges, Ford Bridge and Avonwick. |
| The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - the lowest of its three levels - for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England. | The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - the lowest of its three levels - for rain and high winds on Friday in Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland, Wales and England. |
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