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UK sees further flooding amid storms and high tides UK sees further flooding amid storms and high tides
(about 1 hour later)
High tides and strong winds have brought flooding to Wales, Scotland and western England as officials warn of a continuing threat in parts of the UK.High tides and strong winds have brought flooding to Wales, Scotland and western England as officials warn of a continuing threat in parts of the UK.
There are currently nine severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - for Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wales.There are currently nine severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - for Gloucestershire, Dorset and Wales.
With more flooding expected at high tide later on Friday, the emergency services have urged the public to stay away from coastal areas.With more flooding expected at high tide later on Friday, the emergency services have urged the public to stay away from coastal areas.
A tidal surge caused flooding in Scotland.A tidal surge caused flooding in Scotland.
In Wales, properties were flooded and a number of people had to be rescued.In Wales, properties were flooded and a number of people had to be rescued.
In Northern Ireland, high tides and strong winds caused some flooding in coastal areas but the tide peaked without any major flooding in Belfast.In Northern Ireland, high tides and strong winds caused some flooding in coastal areas but the tide peaked without any major flooding in Belfast.
There were high tides and flooding in the streets of Devon and Cornwall but Tom Mansell, a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) divisional operations manager and flood rescue team leader, said the situation in the area so far had been better than expected. There were high tides and flooding in streets in Devon and Cornwall but Tom Mansell, a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) divisional operations manager and flood rescue team leader, said the situation in the area so far had been better than expected.
"There has been flooding in places like Looe, Kingsbridge and Salcombe but it is not as bad as we had been expecting," he said."There has been flooding in places like Looe, Kingsbridge and Salcombe but it is not as bad as we had been expecting," he said.
Mr Mansell reiterated messages from the emergency services and the Environment Agency, that the biggest danger is when people go to the coast to look. Mr Mansell reiterated messages from the emergency services and the Environment Agency that the biggest danger was people going to the coast to look.
"They don't understand how dangerous the sea can be," he said. "We would say please, please keep away from this water.""They don't understand how dangerous the sea can be," he said. "We would say please, please keep away from this water."
Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has confirmed jobs in flood protection will be cut as part of a major restructure. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said the Environment Agency will protect front-line flood defence services despite the agency confirming hundreds of job cuts.
About 1,500 jobs are to be lost at the agency although it is not clear how many flood-related posts will go. About 1,500 jobs will be lost at the agency although it is not clear how many flood-related posts will go.
A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said that while they were spending £2.3bn tackling the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, the agency was making its own choices about "how best to use their resources".A Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs spokesman said that while they were spending £2.3bn tackling the risk of flooding and coastal erosion, the agency was making its own choices about "how best to use their resources".
'Cobra meeting' Emergency meeting
The agency has issued around 350 lower-level flood alerts and warnings across England and Wales. The Environment Agency has issued about 350 lower-level flood alerts and warnings across England and Wales.
The remaining severe flood warnings relate to areas in Dorset, the River Severn in Gloucestershire and coastal areas of Wales. The severe flood warnings relate to areas in Dorset, the River Severn in Gloucestershire and coastal areas of Wales.
And the Met Office has warned of rain and wind in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Met Office has warned of rain and wind in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired the government's emergencies committee Cobra to discuss the weather situation.Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired the government's emergencies committee Cobra to discuss the weather situation.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said the committee met for about an hour for an update on the situation.BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said the committee met for about an hour for an update on the situation.
The meeting was told 3,500km (2,170 miles) of coastal flood defences were tested by the overnight storms and 130,000 homes were protected.The meeting was told 3,500km (2,170 miles) of coastal flood defences were tested by the overnight storms and 130,000 homes were protected.
Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted that he is ensuring that flood help is fully in place. Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted he is ensuring that flood help is fully in place.
In other developments:In other developments:
Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while many properties have been flooded following bad weather during the Christmas period.Thousands of homes have suffered power cuts due to the recent storms, with some cut off for several days, while many properties have been flooded following bad weather during the Christmas period.
Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution have announced compensation arrangements for those affected by power cuts over Christmas.Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution have announced compensation arrangements for those affected by power cuts over Christmas.
"We are extending our goodwill payments so that any customer who was without electricity for any time on Christmas Day, regardless of the duration of the power cut, will be guaranteed £75," the company said."We are extending our goodwill payments so that any customer who was without electricity for any time on Christmas Day, regardless of the duration of the power cut, will be guaranteed £75," the company said.
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