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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Prince Charles to visit flooded Somerset Levels | Prince Charles to visit flooded Somerset Levels |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prince Charles will visit the Somerset Levels later to meet residents, farmers and members of the emergency services affected by flooding. | Prince Charles will visit the Somerset Levels later to meet residents, farmers and members of the emergency services affected by flooding. |
| He will be joined by representatives from the Prince's Countryside Fund. | |
| Thousands of hectares of land remain under water on the Somerset Levels, where whole villages have been cut off. | Thousands of hectares of land remain under water on the Somerset Levels, where whole villages have been cut off. |
| Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith told the BBC dredging of river channels was part of the answer for Somerset but a comprehensive solution was needed. | Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith told the BBC dredging of river channels was part of the answer for Somerset but a comprehensive solution was needed. |
| He said one option in future was to try to hold back water further up the catchment to prevent so much reaching the Levels, which lie below sea level. | He said one option in future was to try to hold back water further up the catchment to prevent so much reaching the Levels, which lie below sea level. |
| Risk 'continues' | Risk 'continues' |
| But Lord Smith reiterated there was not a limitless amount of money available for tackling floods. | But Lord Smith reiterated there was not a limitless amount of money available for tackling floods. |
| "Most people would say lives come first, and homes and businesses have to come after that," he said. | "Most people would say lives come first, and homes and businesses have to come after that," he said. |
| Some residents in Somerset have rejected this, saying the authorities have not done enough to help. | Some residents in Somerset have rejected this, saying the authorities have not done enough to help. |
| Another unsettled week of wet and windy weather right across the UK is forecast. | Another unsettled week of wet and windy weather right across the UK is forecast. |
| There will be heavy, thundery showers across southern and western areas on Tuesday morning with snow over high ground in Wales and Scottish mountains, said BBC weather forecaster Stav Danaos. | There will be heavy, thundery showers across southern and western areas on Tuesday morning with snow over high ground in Wales and Scottish mountains, said BBC weather forecaster Stav Danaos. |
| Showers will ease in the afternoon with rain expected to hit the Somerset Levels at about 18:00 GMT. | Showers will ease in the afternoon with rain expected to hit the Somerset Levels at about 18:00 GMT. |
| Widespread gales and heavy rain are predicted across the country on Wednesday. | Widespread gales and heavy rain are predicted across the country on Wednesday. |
| The Met Office, meanwhile, has issued a yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - of wind for south-western parts of the UK from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. It says winds could reach 80mph in the most exposed spots. | The Met Office, meanwhile, has issued a yellow warning - meaning "be aware" - of wind for south-western parts of the UK from Tuesday afternoon into the evening. It says winds could reach 80mph in the most exposed spots. |
| The Environment Agency expects the strong winds and high waves to cause flooding in coastal areas. | The Environment Agency expects the strong winds and high waves to cause flooding in coastal areas. |
| It no longer has any "danger to life" severe flood warnings in place, but there are 50 lesser flood warnings and more than 170 flood alerts across England and Wales. | It no longer has any "danger to life" severe flood warnings in place, but there are 50 lesser flood warnings and more than 170 flood alerts across England and Wales. |
| The Agency said the flood risk would continue over the next week. | The Agency said the flood risk would continue over the next week. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 12 flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has 12 flood alerts in place, meaning flooding is possible. |
| Cheaper helpline | Cheaper helpline |
| Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was questioned by MPs on Monday about the government's handling of the crisis. | Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was questioned by MPs on Monday about the government's handling of the crisis. |
| He said the government was spending £100,000 a week extra to pump water in Somerset and that 7,500 properties had been flooded since the start of December. | He said the government was spending £100,000 a week extra to pump water in Somerset and that 7,500 properties had been flooded since the start of December. |
| Mr Paterson said 21 properties were still flooded and 200 people still cut off in the Somerset villages of Muchelney, Thorney, Oath, Stathe and North Moor. | Mr Paterson said 21 properties were still flooded and 200 people still cut off in the Somerset villages of Muchelney, Thorney, Oath, Stathe and North Moor. |
| Meanwhile, a cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England has been opened for calls. | Meanwhile, a cheaper helpline for flooding victims in England has been opened for calls. |
| The Environment Agency's new Floodline number - 0345 9881188 - was opened after complaints that callers were being charged up to 41p a minute to call the existing 0845 helpline when using a mobile phone, with the money going to a private company. | |
| Several coastal towns in south-west England were hit by fresh flooding on Monday, which disrupted business and severed road and rail links. | Several coastal towns in south-west England were hit by fresh flooding on Monday, which disrupted business and severed road and rail links. |
| Cornwall Council said there had been "a severe amount of coastal damage". | Cornwall Council said there had been "a severe amount of coastal damage". |