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| UK braced for more heavy rain after storms | UK braced for more heavy rain after storms |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Britain is braced for further heavy rain in areas already saturated after being battered by storms. | Britain is braced for further heavy rain in areas already saturated after being battered by storms. |
| The Met Office has severe weather warnings for rain for southern and south-west England and south Wales from Thursday afternoon. | The Met Office has severe weather warnings for rain for southern and south-west England and south Wales from Thursday afternoon. |
| The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in the Somerset Levels. | The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in the Somerset Levels. |
| A meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra will be chaired by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in place of the environment secretary. | A meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra will be chaired by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in place of the environment secretary. |
| Owen Paterson has been forced to pull out of leading the government's response to the floods to have emergency surgery on a detached retina. | Owen Paterson has been forced to pull out of leading the government's response to the floods to have emergency surgery on a detached retina. |
| 'Rain is back' | 'Rain is back' |
| Forecasters said there could be 20mm-40mm (0.8in-1.6in) on saturated ground, with further bouts of rain to come into the weekend. | Forecasters said there could be 20mm-40mm (0.8in-1.6in) on saturated ground, with further bouts of rain to come into the weekend. |
| BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said: "After some dry and bright weather to begin with across central southern parts of England and Wales, I'm afraid to say the rain is back - some heavy and persistent rain nudging its way northwards through the afternoon to take us into the early evening rush-hour. | BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said: "After some dry and bright weather to begin with across central southern parts of England and Wales, I'm afraid to say the rain is back - some heavy and persistent rain nudging its way northwards through the afternoon to take us into the early evening rush-hour. |
| "The winds although not much of a feature on this to begin with... will strengthen as we go through Thursday night into Friday morning." | "The winds although not much of a feature on this to begin with... will strengthen as we go through Thursday night into Friday morning." |
| The Met Office has amber severe weather warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for rain for parts of southern England from 15:00 GMT. | The Met Office has amber severe weather warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for rain for parts of southern England from 15:00 GMT. |
| There are yellow severe weather warnings - "be aware" - for areas including south-west England and south Wales from 12:00 GMT. | There are yellow severe weather warnings - "be aware" - for areas including south-west England and south Wales from 12:00 GMT. |
| The Environment Agency has severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in Somerset at Salt Moor and North Moor including Moorland, and at the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge. | The Environment Agency has severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in Somerset at Salt Moor and North Moor including Moorland, and at the A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge. |
| There are about 60 flood warnings in England and Wales and more than 200 flood alerts. In Scotland, there are four flood warnings in Tayside, and a number of flood alerts. | There are about 60 flood warnings in England and Wales and more than 200 flood alerts. In Scotland, there are four flood warnings in Tayside, and a number of flood alerts. |
| The environment secretary has been forced by eye surgery to pull out of leading the government's response to the floods and his handling of the crisis has been widely criticised. | The environment secretary has been forced by eye surgery to pull out of leading the government's response to the floods and his handling of the crisis has been widely criticised. |
| He had been due to chair Thursday's Cobra meeting and make a Commons statement. | He had been due to chair Thursday's Cobra meeting and make a Commons statement. |
| Downing Street said Mr Paterson was expected to be off "for a few days". | Downing Street said Mr Paterson was expected to be off "for a few days". |
| A spokesman said: "In his absence, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles will be in charge of the government's response to the floods." | A spokesman said: "In his absence, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles will be in charge of the government's response to the floods." |
| Western Power Distribution said 953 customers were still without power across south-west England, 490 of these in Cornwall. | Western Power Distribution said 953 customers were still without power across south-west England, 490 of these in Cornwall. |
| The company said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. | The company said about 44,000 customers had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. |
| Looting fear | Looting fear |
| Residents in the Somerset Levels have been evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed. | Residents in the Somerset Levels have been evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed. |
| Sue Sayer, in the village of Moorland, said: "They're advising, if you can, go. But there's an awful lot of people that are not because the risk then of looting if people see empty houses. | Sue Sayer, in the village of Moorland, said: "They're advising, if you can, go. But there's an awful lot of people that are not because the risk then of looting if people see empty houses. |
| "There has already been looting in some properties, not directly in the centre of the village, but on the outskirts there's already been looting which is despicable." | "There has already been looting in some properties, not directly in the centre of the village, but on the outskirts there's already been looting which is despicable." |
| The storm damaged the railway at Dawlish in Devon after a part of the sea wall collapsed and left the tracks suspended in mid-air. | The storm damaged the railway at Dawlish in Devon after a part of the sea wall collapsed and left the tracks suspended in mid-air. |
| First Great Western said the line between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth was closed, and Network Rail estimated it could take at least six weeks to repair. | First Great Western said the line between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth was closed, and Network Rail estimated it could take at least six weeks to repair. |
| Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services due to be provided from Thursday. | Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services due to be provided from Thursday. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron chaired his first Cobra meeting of 2014, and announced an extra £100m for flood works. | Prime Minister David Cameron chaired his first Cobra meeting of 2014, and announced an extra £100m for flood works. |
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