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| Environment Agency chief Lord Smith to visit flood area | Environment Agency chief Lord Smith to visit flood area |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith is to visit the flood-hit Somerset Levels, as more heavy rain is set to hit parts of the UK. | Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith is to visit the flood-hit Somerset Levels, as more heavy rain is set to hit parts of the UK. |
| He will make his first trip to the area on Friday since the floods, where 30-40mm (1.2-1.6in) of rain is expected. | He will make his first trip to the area on Friday since the floods, where 30-40mm (1.2-1.6in) of rain is expected. |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will review rail links to south-west England after damage to a key route. | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will review rail links to south-west England after damage to a key route. |
| Residents in the Somerset village of Moorland are being strongly advised by police to evacuate their homes. | Residents in the Somerset village of Moorland are being strongly advised by police to evacuate their homes. |
| The local water level began rising after temporary flood defences were breached in the early hours of Friday. | The local water level began rising after temporary flood defences were breached in the early hours of Friday. |
| An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman said: "We have been informing local residents and strongly advising them to leave the area. | An Avon and Somerset Constabulary spokesman said: "We have been informing local residents and strongly advising them to leave the area. |
| "Most are taking this advice and a rest centre has been established for those affected at Westfield Church on West Street, Bridgwater. The Royal Marines and search and rescue volunteers are assisting us with this." | "Most are taking this advice and a rest centre has been established for those affected at Westfield Church on West Street, Bridgwater. The Royal Marines and search and rescue volunteers are assisting us with this." |
| "Police will remain in the area to help those who wish to evacuate. Access into the village will be monitored and along with the fire and rescue service we will be patrolling the area." | "Police will remain in the area to help those who wish to evacuate. Access into the village will be monitored and along with the fire and rescue service we will be patrolling the area." |
| The water level rose by about one metre overnight and 80 properties have been affected. About 30 people have decided to stay. | The water level rose by about one metre overnight and 80 properties have been affected. About 30 people have decided to stay. |
| Jan MacEacharn is one of the residents who has decided to stay. She said the water had not yet entered her home. | |
| She told BBC Breakfast that she could not leave because she had a horse, cats and a dog that she did not want to leave behind. | |
| "Everybody in this village is in absolute devastation," she said. "There's not a single person in this village that has got their home left." | |
| Police said it was uncertain how long people who were evacuated would be out of their homes. | |
| Plans are being put in place to decide which homes need to be evacuated in Fordgate which is near Moorland. | Plans are being put in place to decide which homes need to be evacuated in Fordgate which is near Moorland. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron will chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra on Friday. | Prime Minister David Cameron will chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra on Friday. |
| Mr Cameron has promised to do "everything possible" to help people affected by the storms. | Mr Cameron has promised to do "everything possible" to help people affected by the storms. |
| The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for rain and wind in south and south-west England, the south Midlands and south Wales. | The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for rain and wind in south and south-west England, the south Midlands and south Wales. |
| The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in the Somerset Levels, at Salt Moor and North Moor including Moorland, and at A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge. | The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in the Somerset Levels, at Salt Moor and North Moor including Moorland, and at A361 East Lyng to Burrowbridge. |
| There are also more than 100 flood warnings across England and Wales, and more than 270 flood alerts. | There are also more than 100 flood warnings across England and Wales, and more than 270 flood alerts. |
| The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has a flood alert for Tayside. | The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has a flood alert for Tayside. |
| BBC weather presenter Peter Gibbs said there would be a brief pause but another storm was rushing towards Britain, with gale-force southerly winds with gusts of up to 60mph (96km/h) on Friday. | BBC weather presenter Peter Gibbs said there would be a brief pause but another storm was rushing towards Britain, with gale-force southerly winds with gusts of up to 60mph (96km/h) on Friday. |
| The Met Office said it was the wettest combined December and January for more than 100 years. Rain fell on 23 out of 31 days in January across the UK. | The Met Office said it was the wettest combined December and January for more than 100 years. Rain fell on 23 out of 31 days in January across the UK. |
| The Ministry of Defence said about 40 Royal Marines from 40 Commando, based in Taunton, had been sent to the Somerset Levels to provide help. | The Ministry of Defence said about 40 Royal Marines from 40 Commando, based in Taunton, had been sent to the Somerset Levels to provide help. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "This assistance will support a range of tasks, including sandbagging and moving householders' property to higher levels. | An MoD spokesman said: "This assistance will support a range of tasks, including sandbagging and moving householders' property to higher levels. |
| "As part of the government's overall response, the Ministry of Defence will continue to consider requests for military support positively and stands by to scope requests for assistance rapidly. | "As part of the government's overall response, the Ministry of Defence will continue to consider requests for military support positively and stands by to scope requests for assistance rapidly. |
| "We will continue to offer advice on specific roles where the military could provide assistance." | "We will continue to offer advice on specific roles where the military could provide assistance." |
| The government has pledged an extra £30m for flood repairs and maintenance as the prime minister defended the government's response to the storms. | The government has pledged an extra £30m for flood repairs and maintenance as the prime minister defended the government's response to the storms. |
| The money is for this year, on top of an additional £100m previously announced to be spent next year. | The money is for this year, on top of an additional £100m previously announced to be spent next year. |
| After chairing another Cobra meeting, Mr Cameron pledged continuing assistance to those who had suffered the most. | After chairing another Cobra meeting, Mr Cameron pledged continuing assistance to those who had suffered the most. |
| He said more pumps would be sent to clear roads and Army engineers were working with National Rail on ways to shore up the section of railway between Devon and Cornwall which was badly damaged by storms. | He said more pumps would be sent to clear roads and Army engineers were working with National Rail on ways to shore up the section of railway between Devon and Cornwall which was badly damaged by storms. |
| Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told MPs the government would carry out a "rapid review of the additional work needed to restore our flood defences and maintain them". | Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told MPs the government would carry out a "rapid review of the additional work needed to restore our flood defences and maintain them". |
| 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. |
| Part of the main railway line linking London and the south-west of England was out of action after storm damage at Dawlish in Devon. | Part of the main railway line linking London and the south-west of England was out of action after storm damage at Dawlish in Devon. |
| Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with a rail replacement service bridging the gap. | Limited services were running between Plymouth and Penzance, with a rail replacement service bridging the gap. |
| Tim Jones, from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said devastation of the line would cost the region's economy as much as £2m a day. | Tim Jones, from the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said devastation of the line would cost the region's economy as much as £2m a day. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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