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| Prime minister defends storm response | Prime minister defends storm response |
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| The prime minister has defended the government's response to the storms that have hit the UK, as parts of the country are braced for more heavy rain. | The prime minister has defended the government's response to the storms that have hit the UK, as parts of the country are braced for more heavy rain. |
| It comes as the transport secretary said he would review alternative rail routes to south-west England after a Devon line was destroyed by the storms. | It comes as the transport secretary said he would review alternative rail routes to south-west England after a Devon line was destroyed by the storms. |
| The Met Office has more severe weather warnings for rain for southern parts of England and south Wales. | The Met Office has more severe weather warnings for rain for southern parts of England and south Wales. |
| And there are two severe flood warnings in the Somerset Levels. | And there are two severe flood warnings in the Somerset Levels. |
| David Cameron rejected criticism of the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who has been accused of being slow to respond to the storms and subsequent flooding. | David Cameron rejected criticism of the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, who has been accused of being slow to respond to the storms and subsequent flooding. |
| In a BBC Manchester interview he insisted that the government had been "very proactive" in its response to the storms and that Mr Paterson was "on top of the flooding issue". | In a BBC Manchester interview he insisted that the government had been "very proactive" in its response to the storms and that Mr Paterson was "on top of the flooding issue". |
| Rail line concerns | Rail line concerns |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin's comments to MPs about conducting a "rigorous review" into alternative rail routes in the South West came after a storm destroyed parts of a railway line in Dawlish, Devon, that is considered a vital transport link between the region and the rest of the country. | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin's comments to MPs about conducting a "rigorous review" into alternative rail routes in the South West came after a storm destroyed parts of a railway line in Dawlish, Devon, that is considered 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 that it would take "several weeks" to fix the line. | Robin Gisby of Network Rail told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it would take "several weeks" to fix the line. |
| There are concerns among business leaders in Devon and Cornwall that the destruction of the line will cost the local economy millions of pounds. | There are concerns among business leaders in Devon and Cornwall that the destruction of the line will cost the local economy millions of pounds. |
| Communities Secretary Eric Pickles updated MPs on the flooding in the absence of Mr Paterson, who has been forced to pull out of leading the government's response to the floods to have emergency surgery on a detached retina. | |
| He said the government would carry out a "rapid review of the additional work needed to restore our flood defences and maintain them". | |
| And in addition to the extra £100m announced by the prime minister on Wednesday to be used for flood works, Mr Pickles said there would be another £30m to "cover costs incurred during the current emergency response and recovery, as well as essential repairs to ensure that defences are maintained". | |
| Of the £130m total, £30m will be spent in 2014/15 and £100m will be spent in 2015/16. | |
| Mr Cameron will chair the government's emergency committee Cobra later. | |
| 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 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 of this to begin with... will strengthen as we go through Thursday night into Friday morning." | "The winds although not much of a feature of 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, whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, had been due to chair Thursday's Cobra meeting and make a Commons statement. | The environment secretary, whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, 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" after surgery. | Downing Street said Mr Paterson was expected to be off "for a few days" after surgery. |
| 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 |
| Many residents in the Somerset Levels have been evacuated amid fears flood defences could be overwhelmed. | Many 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." |
| Fire crews rescued 14 people in Devon and Somerset from flood water overnight. | Fire crews rescued 14 people in Devon and Somerset from flood water overnight. |
| PC Rob Jacobs, from Avon and Somerset Police, who was on patrol locally, said some areas were already impassable. | PC Rob Jacobs, from Avon and Somerset Police, who was on patrol locally, said some areas were already impassable. |
| "We've got 4x4 vehicles but even then the access isn't great," he said. | "We've got 4x4 vehicles but even then the access isn't great," he said. |
| "We've just tried to come down one way round into Fordgate and I think the water is probably a bit too deep. A couple of local farmers advised us that one route we were looking at to come down is at least 3ft, probably more." | "We've just tried to come down one way round into Fordgate and I think the water is probably a bit too deep. A couple of local farmers advised us that one route we were looking at to come down is at least 3ft, probably more." |
| 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 Mr 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 Mr 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 due to be provided from Thursday. | Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with rail replacement services due to be provided from Thursday. |
| 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." |
| 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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