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| UK storms: Coastal areas in west hit by renewed gales | UK storms: Coastal areas in west hit by renewed gales |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gales are continuing across southern parts of the UK, with coastal areas facing west bearing the brunt of the strongest winds and heavy rain. | Gales are continuing across southern parts of the UK, with coastal areas facing west bearing the brunt of the strongest winds and heavy rain. |
| Forecasters said gusts reached 80mph along the coasts of Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and west Wales. | Forecasters said gusts reached 80mph along the coasts of Cornwall, the Bristol Channel and west Wales. |
| The Environment Agency has warned of a "significant risk" of further flooding throughout Devon and Cornwall. | The Environment Agency has warned of a "significant risk" of further flooding throughout Devon and Cornwall. |
| A landslip at Crewkerne in Somerset means all rail routes between London and the West Country are now blocked. | A landslip at Crewkerne in Somerset means all rail routes between London and the West Country are now blocked. |
| First Great Western said the landslip meant there were no services running between Castle Cary and Exeter and replacement buses were in operation. | First Great Western said the landslip meant there were no services running between Castle Cary and Exeter and replacement buses were in operation. |
| Routes into the West Country via Bridgwater and Yeovil were already blocked because of flooding. | Routes into the West Country via Bridgwater and Yeovil were already blocked because of flooding. |
| In Dawlish, where key line between Devon and Cornwall was destroyed by waves on Tuesday, concrete has been sprayed onto the cliff behind the track to make the area safer in the face of continuing high winds and large waves. | In Dawlish, where key line between Devon and Cornwall was destroyed by waves on Tuesday, concrete has been sprayed onto the cliff behind the track to make the area safer in the face of continuing high winds and large waves. |
| Network Rail said work at the site was "progressing well" in six-hour shifts in between high tides. | |
| Meanwhile, the village of Moorland in Somerset, where about 80 homes were evacuated after the local water level rose by about one metre overnight on Thursday, breaching temporary flood defences in the early hours of Friday, is among three areas subject to severe flood warnings. | Meanwhile, the village of Moorland in Somerset, where about 80 homes were evacuated after the local water level rose by about one metre overnight on Thursday, breaching temporary flood defences in the early hours of Friday, is among three areas subject to severe flood warnings. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| The Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Ian Liddell-Grainger, said river levels in his constituency remained "enormously high" and people there were "having to batten down again to prepare for the next storm". | The Conservative MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Ian Liddell-Grainger, said river levels in his constituency remained "enormously high" and people there were "having to batten down again to prepare for the next storm". |
| He again criticised the Environment Agency and its head, the former Labour cabinet minister Lord Smith, for not dredging in the area to prepare for storms. | He again criticised the Environment Agency and its head, the former Labour cabinet minister Lord Smith, for not dredging in the area to prepare for storms. |
| "We have been let down by London," he said. "On the ground they [Environment Agency staff] are working hard. Up in London I do not know what they are doing." | "We have been let down by London," he said. "On the ground they [Environment Agency staff] are working hard. Up in London I do not know what they are doing." |
| The BBC Weather Centre said high seas and large waves would continue throughout Saturday in many southern and western coastal areas. | The BBC Weather Centre said high seas and large waves would continue throughout Saturday in many southern and western coastal areas. |
| But it said the tides were not as high as their spring tide peak last weekend. | But it said the tides were not as high as their spring tide peak last weekend. |
| The Ministry of Defence has put 1,500 personnel on notice to help with the aftermath of flooding in southern England if needed. | The Ministry of Defence has put 1,500 personnel on notice to help with the aftermath of flooding in southern England if needed. |
| Late on Saturday morning, about 120 homes in the Bournemouth and Petersfield areas were without electricity. | Late on Saturday morning, about 120 homes in the Bournemouth and Petersfield areas were without electricity. |
| More than 300 homes in Cornwall also had no power. | More than 300 homes in Cornwall also had no power. |
| The Prospect union, which represents staff in the Environment Agency, rejected the comments, saying there was a "concerted effort to criticise the Environment Agency rather than those who have cut their budget by £45m a year". | The Prospect union, which represents staff in the Environment Agency, rejected the comments, saying there was a "concerted effort to criticise the Environment Agency rather than those who have cut their budget by £45m a year". |
| Supt Ian Wylie of Avon and Somerset Police said agencies working in the area were constantly trying to plan ahead but there would be no quick solutions. | Supt Ian Wylie of Avon and Somerset Police said agencies working in the area were constantly trying to plan ahead but there would be no quick solutions. |
| "It is going to be a number of weeks before this response phase moves into recovery," he said. | "It is going to be a number of weeks before this response phase moves into recovery," he said. |
| A Met Office amber warning advising people to be prepared for strong winds is in effect for south-west England and Wales and the South coast. | A Met Office amber warning advising people to be prepared for strong winds is in effect for south-west England and Wales and the South coast. |
| An amber rain warning for southern England has expired, but a less severe yellow warning is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday. | An amber rain warning for southern England has expired, but a less severe yellow warning is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday. |
| The yellow warning covers the entire south of England plus parts of the Midlands and much of Wales. | The yellow warning covers the entire south of England plus parts of the Midlands and much of Wales. |
| The Met Office says winds will increase from the south west during the course of Saturday with gales affecting coastal districts. Further inland, gusts of 50-60 mph are likely. | The Met Office says winds will increase from the south west during the course of Saturday with gales affecting coastal districts. Further inland, gusts of 50-60 mph are likely. |
| Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could get 20-30mm (1in) of rain through the course of Saturday. | Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could get 20-30mm (1in) of rain through the course of Saturday. |
| The strong winds are expected to last into Sunday morning but forecasters said most areas would have some respite from the stormy conditions on Sunday. | The strong winds are expected to last into Sunday morning but forecasters said most areas would have some respite from the stormy conditions on Sunday. |
| Monday would be a quiet day but wet and windy weather would return on Tuesday. | Monday would be a quiet day but wet and windy weather would return on Tuesday. |
| Defences breached | Defences breached |
| The Environment Agency has three severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - in place, two in Somerset and one for Chiswell in the Isle of Portland. | The Environment Agency has three severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - in place, two in Somerset and one for Chiswell in the Isle of Portland. |
| The agency has also issued about 190 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts. | The agency has also issued about 190 flood warnings and almost 300 flood alerts. |
| Downing Street confirmed on Saturday that the prime minister received a letter from local farmers last September in which they asked for government funds to help with flood protection and dredging. | Downing Street confirmed on Saturday that the prime minister received a letter from local farmers last September in which they asked for government funds to help with flood protection and dredging. |
| The request, for £1m, was passed on to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and declined by the floods minister at the time, Richard Benyon. | The request, for £1m, was passed on to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and declined by the floods minister at the time, Richard Benyon. |
| Mr Benyon, who is no longer a minister, has been unavailable for comment. | Mr Benyon, who is no longer a minister, has been unavailable for comment. |
| Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle said it was the "latest proof of neglect by the government". | Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle said it was the "latest proof of neglect by the government". |
| "This is further evidence that David Cameron made the wrong decision on flood protection funding and shows that neither he nor his environment secretary take the issue of flooding seriously." | "This is further evidence that David Cameron made the wrong decision on flood protection funding and shows that neither he nor his environment secretary take the issue of flooding seriously." |
| On Friday, Mr Cameron admitted there were "lessons to learn" from the flooding and said it had been "wrong" for the Environment Agency to pause dredging in the 1990s. | On Friday, Mr Cameron admitted there were "lessons to learn" from the flooding and said it had been "wrong" for the Environment Agency to pause dredging in the 1990s. |
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