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Fresh storm causes major disruption UK storms wash away railway line and leave thousands without power
(35 minutes later)
South-west England and south Wales are being battered by a powerful storm, with thousands of homes without power and transport disrupted. South-west England and south Wales are being hit by a powerful storm, washing away part of a railway line and leaving thousands of homes without electricity.
Forecasters have warned that the storm is "on the move", heading east, with rain, thunder and hail forecast, and winds of up to 50mph in London. Forecasters have warned the storm is heading east, with rain, thunder and hail expected, along with winds of up to 50mph in London.
In Dawlish, Devon, a section of sea wall under the railway line collapsed, leaving the track suspended in mid-air. A section of the sea wall in Dawlish, Devon, collapsed and left the main railway line suspended in mid-air.
David Cameron has announced an extra £100m for flood repairs. David Cameron has announced an extra £100m for flood works.
Engineers have been working to restore power but more than 7,000 homes are still without electricity. At Prime Minister's Questions he pledged £75m for repairs over the next year, £10m for urgent work in Somerset - where several rivers have flooded - and £15m for maintenance.
Mr Cameron will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee later. He said: "Whatever is required, whether it is dredging work on the rivers Tone and Parrett, whether it is support for our emergency services, whether it is fresh money for flood defences, whether it's action across the board, this government will help those families and get this issue sorted."
It is the first time this year that the prime minister will have chaired a meeting of Cobra to discuss the floods and follows widespread criticism of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis. Mr Cameron is to chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the floods following widespread criticism of Environment Secretary Owen Paterson's handling of the crisis.
The prime minister's office said Mr Cameron was anxious to ensure that "all that can be done is being done".
Earlier, First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Penzance were closed because of adverse weather conditions and it advised against travel for the rest of the day.Earlier, First Great Western said all lines between Exeter St Davids and Penzance were closed because of adverse weather conditions and it advised against travel for the rest of the day.
It said some branch lines in Devon and Cornwall were starting to operate.It said some branch lines in Devon and Cornwall were starting to operate.
Part of the sea wall at Dawlish, which is between Exeter and Cornwall, has collapsed and the railway station and tracks have been severely damaged by huge waves, driven by gale-force winds.Part of the sea wall at Dawlish, which is between Exeter and Cornwall, has collapsed and the railway station and tracks have been severely damaged by huge waves, driven by gale-force winds.
The Environment Agency has nine severe flood warnings in place, meaning "danger to life", covering much of the south coast from Cornwall to Dorset and two areas of Somerset.The Environment Agency has nine severe flood warnings in place, meaning "danger to life", covering much of the south coast from Cornwall to Dorset and two areas of Somerset.
Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon and 7,400 homes in south-west England remained without power. Western Power Distribution said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon and 5,000 homes in south-west England remained without power.
Overnight 'pasting'Overnight 'pasting'
The Met Office said gusts of up to 70mph and 20mm of rain had spread from the South West to south-west Wales and eastern Northern Ireland overnight.The Met Office said gusts of up to 70mph and 20mm of rain had spread from the South West to south-west Wales and eastern Northern Ireland overnight.
Western Power Distribution said there had been high voltage faults due to debris being blown around in Devon and Cornwall.Western Power Distribution said there had been high voltage faults due to debris being blown around in Devon and Cornwall.
Teams of engineers worked through the night to try to fix the faults, and the company said it would also switch circuits to work around individual faults.Teams of engineers worked through the night to try to fix the faults, and the company said it would also switch circuits to work around individual faults.
Phil Davies, network service manager for the company, said they had had "quite a pasting in the South West overnight".Phil Davies, network service manager for the company, said they had had "quite a pasting in the South West overnight".
"We are importing some staff from south Wales and the Midlands to help and we are confident we can get everybody back [with power] today.""We are importing some staff from south Wales and the Midlands to help and we are confident we can get everybody back [with power] today."
In other developments:In other developments:
In Wales, a number of main roads were closed by fallen trees or flooding.In Wales, a number of main roads were closed by fallen trees or flooding.
Firefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings.Firefighters have also been called out to deal with dangerous structures. There have been two incidents in the Tenby area of Pembrokeshire with roofing being blown off buildings.
The Met Office has an amber severe weather warning - meaning "be prepared" - for wind for southern England between 08:00 and 15:00 GMT on Wednesday, as well as warnings for wind and rain for other parts of the UK.The Met Office has an amber severe weather warning - meaning "be prepared" - for wind for southern England between 08:00 and 15:00 GMT on Wednesday, as well as warnings for wind and rain for other parts of the UK.
The Environment Agency's severe flood warnings cover South Cornwall, South Devon from Start Point to Dawlish Warren, South Devon from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, Lyme Regis harbour, West Bay in Dorset, Weymouth seafront, Chiswell on the Isle of Portland, and two areas of Somerset - the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge, and Salt Moor and North Moor.The Environment Agency's severe flood warnings cover South Cornwall, South Devon from Start Point to Dawlish Warren, South Devon from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, Lyme Regis harbour, West Bay in Dorset, Weymouth seafront, Chiswell on the Isle of Portland, and two areas of Somerset - the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge, and Salt Moor and North Moor.
It also has about 70 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts in England and Wales.It also has about 70 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts in England and Wales.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has one flood warning for Kirkcaldy in Fife, and several flood alerts.The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has one flood warning for Kirkcaldy in Fife, and several flood alerts.
BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said there would be more stormy weather on Wednesday.BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said there would be more stormy weather on Wednesday.
"There will be another bout of potentially damaging winds into the morning rush-hour," he said."There will be another bout of potentially damaging winds into the morning rush-hour," he said.
On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales met residents in the flood-hit Somerset Levels where thousands of hectares of land remain under water and whole villages have been cut off for weeks.On Tuesday, the Prince of Wales met residents in the flood-hit Somerset Levels where thousands of hectares of land remain under water and whole villages have been cut off for weeks.
Somerset residents have expressed anger at the pace at which the Environment Agency and the government have responded.Somerset residents have expressed anger at the pace at which the Environment Agency and the government have responded.
Many said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Levels since December.Many said there has been a slow response from the authorities to the flooding, which has affected many parts of the Levels since December.
In Cornwall, the local authority estimated storms had caused more than £4m of damage across the county in the past month.In Cornwall, the local authority estimated storms had caused more than £4m of damage across the county in the past month.
The Met Office said another band of rain was expected to arrive from the south on Thursday.The Met Office said another band of rain was expected to arrive from the south on Thursday.
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