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| Government announces extra £30m for flood repairs | Government announces extra £30m for flood repairs |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An extra £30m has been pledged for flood repairs and maintenance after the prime minister defended the government's response to the storms. | An extra £30m has been pledged for flood repairs and maintenance after the prime minister defended the government's response to the storms. |
| South-west England has been worst hit, with more than 400 homes still flooded and the key railway line through to Cornwall destroyed. | |
| Royal Marines have been sent on to the Somerset Levels to help with sand bags. | |
| David Cameron, who is chairing a Cobra emergency committee, insisted: "We're not just talking, we're acting." | |
| Asked whether visiting flood-hit Somerset would be more useful than talking in London, the prime minister said: "It was because of Cobra that we got extra pumps down to Somerset. It was because of Cobra that I forced through the extra £100m of funding. | |
| "It's because of Cobra that the army is available to help in Somerset. If there's anything that they can do to help, they will do." | "It's because of Cobra that the army is available to help in Somerset. If there's anything that they can do to help, they will do." |
| And he added: "Believe me, I will be in Somerset before long, listening to people directly." | And he added: "Believe me, I will be in Somerset before long, listening to people directly." |
| Earlier, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told MPs he would review alternative rail routes to south-west England after the storm caused massive damage to the main railway between Devon and Cornwall. | Earlier, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told MPs he would review alternative rail routes to south-west England after the storm caused massive damage to the main railway between Devon and Cornwall. |
| And Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told them the government would carry out a "rapid review of the additional work needed to restore our flood defences and maintain them". | And Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told them the government would carry out a "rapid review of the additional work needed to restore our flood defences and maintain them". |
| The extra £30m - on top of the £100m announced by Mr Cameron on Wednesday - would "cover costs incurred during the current emergency response and recovery, as well as essential repairs to ensure that defences are maintained", said Mr Pickles, who was standing in for Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who is to have emergency eye surgery. | The extra £30m - on top of the £100m announced by Mr Cameron on Wednesday - would "cover costs incurred during the current emergency response and recovery, as well as essential repairs to ensure that defences are maintained", said Mr Pickles, who was standing in for Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who is to have emergency eye surgery. |
| He also said 42 new flood defence schemes were planned for 2014/15. | He also said 42 new flood defence schemes were planned for 2014/15. |
| But UKIP, which dismissed the extra spending as "far too little, far too late", called on the government to channel part of its foreign aid budget into helping those worst hit by the flooding. | But UKIP, which dismissed the extra spending as "far too little, far too late", called on the government to channel part of its foreign aid budget into helping those worst hit by the flooding. |
| It is urging the government to suspend payments from the £11bn annual budget and divert them "on a month by month basis" to areas in most need of repairs to storm-damaged property, renewal of flood defences and restoration of transport links. | It is urging the government to suspend payments from the £11bn annual budget and divert them "on a month by month basis" to areas in most need of repairs to storm-damaged property, renewal of flood defences and restoration of transport links. |
| Rail line concerns | Rail line concerns |
| Mr McLoughlin promised MPs a "rigorous review" of alternative rail routes in south-west England in the wake of the storm that destroyed parts of the railway line in Dawlish, Devon. | Mr McLoughlin promised MPs a "rigorous review" of alternative rail routes in south-west England in the wake of the storm that destroyed parts of the railway line in Dawlish, Devon. |
| Robin Gisby, of Network Rail, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it would take "several weeks" to fix the line, which is regarded as a vital transport link between the region and the rest of the country. | Robin Gisby, of Network Rail, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it would take "several weeks" to fix the line, which is regarded as a vital transport link between the region and the rest of the country. |
| Business leaders in Devon and Cornwall are worried that the destruction of the line will cost the local economy millions of pounds. | Business leaders in Devon and Cornwall are worried that the destruction of the line will cost the local economy millions of pounds. |
| Meanwhile, as much of southern and south-west England prepared for the next bout of storms, Royal Marines moved on to the Somerset Levels to help protect property and people. | |
| Somerset County Council says the marines will support its own teams, reinforcing banks with sand bags and helping people move their belongings. | |
| The Met Office has issued severe weather warnings for rain in parts of southern England and south Wales, and two severe flood warnings on the Somerset Levels. | |
| The amber warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for rain in parts of southern England, and yellow severe weather warnings - "be aware" - for areas including south-west England and south Wales - are valid until Saturday night. | The amber warnings - meaning "be prepared" - for rain in parts of southern England, and yellow severe weather warnings - "be aware" - for areas including south-west England and south Wales - are valid until Saturday night. |
| The Environment Agency (EA) has two 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. | |
| At 18:30 GMT there were more than 70 flood warnings in England and Wales and more than 250 flood alerts. | |
| In Scotland, there were four flood warnings and two flood alerts in place, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency said. | |
| The EA said a total of 413 properties remained flooded in England, including 40 in Somerset, where 65 square kilometres of land (25 square miles) was under water. | |
| Forecasters said there could be 20mm-40mm (0.8in-1.6in) of rain falling on saturated ground on Thursday, with further bouts of rain to come into the weekend. | Forecasters said there could be 20mm-40mm (0.8in-1.6in) of rain falling on saturated ground on Thursday, with further bouts of rain to come into the weekend. |
| BBC weather presenter Peter Gibbs said gusts of up to 70mph were expected during the next round of storms, due to hit the South West on Friday night, with the risk of even stronger gusts on Saturday night. | BBC weather presenter Peter Gibbs said gusts of up to 70mph were expected during the next round of storms, due to hit the South West on Friday night, with the risk of even stronger gusts on Saturday night. |
| "There is no sign of an end to this unsettled weather right into next week," he said. | "There is no sign of an end to this unsettled weather right into next week," he said. |
| Electricity supplies have been restored to more than 1,700 customers in south-west England, who had been without power. | Electricity supplies have been restored to more than 1,700 customers in south-west England, who had been without power. |
| Western Power Distribution said supplies were reconnected during the afternoon and services were now "back to a normal day". It said about 44,000 customers in total had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. | Western Power Distribution said supplies were reconnected during the afternoon and services were now "back to a normal day". It said about 44,000 customers in total had been affected by power cuts since Tuesday afternoon. |
| In the Somerset levels, where marines from 40 Commando have been deployed to help with sandbagging, some residents have heeded warnings to evacuate their homes amid fears that flood defences could be overwhelmed. | In the Somerset levels, where marines from 40 Commando have been deployed to help with sandbagging, some residents have heeded warnings to evacuate their homes amid fears that flood defences could be overwhelmed. |
| But a number remained, apparently prepared to risk the consequences in order to protect their properties from looters. | But a number remained, apparently prepared to risk the consequences in order to protect their properties from looters. |
| 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 BBC's Sarah Ransome says temporary flood defences are being installed around the more vulnerable properties in the area to try to protect them from the next wave of flooding. | The BBC's Sarah Ransome says temporary flood defences are being installed around the more vulnerable properties in the area to try to protect them from the next wave of flooding. |
| Across Devon and Somerset, fire crews rescued 14 people from flood water overnight. | Across Devon and Somerset, fire crews rescued 14 people from flood water overnight. |
| The storm damaged the railway at Dawlish after a part of the sea wall collapsed and left the tracks suspended in mid-air. | The storm damaged the railway at Dawlish 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. |
| Network Rail's Robin Gisby said: "We haven't been able to do a proper inspection yet. What we will do in the next 48 hours is protect it against what we understand will be a further big storm on Saturday night." | Network Rail's Robin Gisby said: "We haven't been able to do a proper inspection yet. What we will do in the next 48 hours is protect it against what we understand will be a further big storm on Saturday night." |
| He said he was concerned that the 80m section of wall that had gone was leaving the rest of the line exposed. | He said he was concerned that the 80m section of wall that had gone was leaving the rest of the line exposed. |
| Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services bridging the gap. | Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services bridging the gap. |
| Tim Jones, from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said the destruction of the line - which connects Devon and Cornwall to the rest of the UK - would cost the region's economy between £1m and £2m a day. | Tim Jones, from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said the destruction of the line - which connects Devon and Cornwall to the rest of the UK - would cost the region's economy between £1m and £2m a day. |
| Despite the problems expected by businesses, the managing director of St Austell Brewery, James Staughton, said of the region: "We are very resilient, we are very open for business and I'm sure we'll find a way round it, but we need a lot of government support to make it happen." | Despite the problems expected by businesses, the managing director of St Austell Brewery, James Staughton, said of the region: "We are very resilient, we are very open for business and I'm sure we'll find a way round it, but we need a lot of government support to make it happen." |
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