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| UK weather: Marines drafted in to evacuate Somerset residents as Environment Agency chief is set to visit flood-hit areas | UK weather: Marines drafted in to evacuate Somerset residents as Environment Agency chief is set to visit flood-hit areas |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Royal Marines building sandbag defences in the Somerset Levels have been drafted in to assist with the evacuation of residents in the village of Moorland this morning, after more residents were warned to leave their homes overnight. | Royal Marines building sandbag defences in the Somerset Levels have been drafted in to assist with the evacuation of residents in the village of Moorland this morning, after more residents were warned to leave their homes overnight. |
| The chairman of the Environment Agency will today visit the area for the first time since it was hit by floods, as another night of heavy rain overwhelmed local defences. | The chairman of the Environment Agency will today visit the area for the first time since it was hit by floods, as another night of heavy rain overwhelmed local defences. |
| Last night, residents of Northmoor, Fordgate and Saltmoor, also on the Levels, had already been urged to evacuate. | Last night, residents of Northmoor, Fordgate and Saltmoor, also on the Levels, had already been urged to evacuate. |
| A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Earlier this morning local flood defences were breached and the water level in Moorland began rising. | A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Earlier this morning local flood defences were breached and the water level in Moorland began rising. |
| “We are have been informing local residents and strongly advising them to leave the area. | “We are have been informing local residents and strongly advising them to leave the area. |
| Two severe flood warnings - meaning a danger to life - have been issued by the Environment Agency, both in the South West. | Two severe flood warnings - meaning a danger to life - have been issued by the Environment Agency, both in the South West. |
| Lord Smith, Environment Agency chairman, will visit the region amid criticism of his comments that Britain may have to choose whether it wishes to save “town or country” from future flooding due to the cost of defending both. | Lord Smith, Environment Agency chairman, will visit the region amid criticism of his comments that Britain may have to choose whether it wishes to save “town or country” from future flooding due to the cost of defending both. |
| The agency has also been under fire from some residents who believe river dredging could have helped reduce flooding. Around 5,000 properties have been affected by flooding across the country, including 40 in Somerset. | The agency has also been under fire from some residents who believe river dredging could have helped reduce flooding. Around 5,000 properties have been affected by flooding across the country, including 40 in Somerset. |
| Severe weather alerts were in place for south east England, the South West and Wales as further torrential downpours arrived overnight, with more wet weather forecast. | Severe weather alerts were in place for south east England, the South West and Wales as further torrential downpours arrived overnight, with more wet weather forecast. |
| In the South East, there were 68 flood warnings and 135 flood alerts at 8am this morning. The Environment Agency was out overnight checking river levels and is poised to put up temporary flood defences in vulnerable areas prone to flooding. | In the South East, there were 68 flood warnings and 135 flood alerts at 8am this morning. The Environment Agency was out overnight checking river levels and is poised to put up temporary flood defences in vulnerable areas prone to flooding. |
| In Kent, areas of which were badly affected by floods over Christmas, police and council officials warned of more problems, including possible localised flooding in Yalding, Tonbridge, Hildenborough and Paddock Wood. | In Kent, areas of which were badly affected by floods over Christmas, police and council officials warned of more problems, including possible localised flooding in Yalding, Tonbridge, Hildenborough and Paddock Wood. |
| Details of Lord Smith's visit to Somerset, which comes a week after Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was heckled by local residents when he went to the Levels, have not been released. | Details of Lord Smith's visit to Somerset, which comes a week after Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was heckled by local residents when he went to the Levels, have not been released. |
| The Prime Minister, who chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee last night, has claimed he will visit Somerset himself “when the time is right”. | The Prime Minister, who chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee last night, has claimed he will visit Somerset himself “when the time is right”. |
| David Cameron said he wanted to reassure people affected by the floods that the Government was keeping up its “urgent response”. | David Cameron said he wanted to reassure people affected by the floods that the Government was keeping up its “urgent response”. |
| “Across the country another £30 million will be spent on urgent flood defence repairs this year, on top of the £100 million next year which I announced [on Wednesday],” he said. | “Across the country another £30 million will be spent on urgent flood defence repairs this year, on top of the £100 million next year which I announced [on Wednesday],” he said. |
| Liberal Democrat MEP for South West England Sir Graham Watson and two colleagues have written to Mr Paterson urging him to apply for support from the European Union's Solidarity Fund, which provides resources for member states to deal with the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters. | Liberal Democrat MEP for South West England Sir Graham Watson and two colleagues have written to Mr Paterson urging him to apply for support from the European Union's Solidarity Fund, which provides resources for member states to deal with the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters. |
| The MEP said he had already spoken to the EU's regional policy commissioner Johannes Hahn, who told him that the UK “might well” qualify for support from the fund. | The MEP said he had already spoken to the EU's regional policy commissioner Johannes Hahn, who told him that the UK “might well” qualify for support from the fund. |
| Sir Graham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “If our taxpayers are helping to establish this fund, we should be drawing down from it when we need it. And the need is certainly there. | Sir Graham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: “If our taxpayers are helping to establish this fund, we should be drawing down from it when we need it. And the need is certainly there. |
| "It doesn't have to be a national emergency. It can be a regional emergency, and it certainly is here in the South-West peninsula." | "It doesn't have to be a national emergency. It can be a regional emergency, and it certainly is here in the South-West peninsula." |
| The Met Office confirmed it has been the wettest December and January combined for more than 100 years, with rain falling on 23 out of 31 days in January across the UK. | The Met Office confirmed it has been the wettest December and January combined for more than 100 years, with rain falling on 23 out of 31 days in January across the UK. |
| In January, there was 183.8mm of rainfall, 51 per cent higher than the average. Southern England was hit by over five months' worth of rainfall, from just mid-December to the end of January, figures show. | In January, there was 183.8mm of rainfall, 51 per cent higher than the average. Southern England was hit by over five months' worth of rainfall, from just mid-December to the end of January, figures show. |
| Met Office spokeswoman Laura Young warned that the whole of the UK will tonight be “engulfed” by heavy rain. | Met Office spokeswoman Laura Young warned that the whole of the UK will tonight be “engulfed” by heavy rain. |
| Severe winds are expected across the UK tomorrow, with some areas of exposed coastline potentially seeing gusts of wind of more than 80 mph. | Severe winds are expected across the UK tomorrow, with some areas of exposed coastline potentially seeing gusts of wind of more than 80 mph. |
| Additional reporting from PA | Additional reporting from PA |