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| UK floods: Southern UK set for gales and more rain | UK floods: Southern UK set for gales and more rain |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Southern parts of the UK are again being hit by rain and strong winds with forecasters warning of gales to come. | Southern parts of the UK are again being hit by rain and strong winds with forecasters warning of gales to come. |
| The Met Office has issued an amber warning for high winds in south Wales and south-west England, with 60-70 mph coastal gusts and large waves expected. | The Met Office has issued an amber warning for high winds in south Wales and south-west England, with 60-70 mph coastal gusts and large waves expected. |
| The warning, which is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday, says gusts could reach 80mph in exposed locations. | The warning, which is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday, says gusts could reach 80mph in exposed locations. |
| The Ministry of Defence has put 1,500 personnel on notice to help if needed. | The Ministry of Defence has put 1,500 personnel on notice to help if needed. |
| On Saturday morning, about 670 homes in the Newbury, Basingstoke, Bournemouth and Salisbury areas were without electricity. | On Saturday morning, about 670 homes in the Newbury, Basingstoke, Bournemouth and Salisbury areas were without electricity. |
| Concrete | Concrete |
| In Dawlish, where the key railway line between Devon and Cornwall has been destroyed by waves, spray concrete has been pumped into the cliff behind the track. | In Dawlish, where the key railway line between Devon and Cornwall has been destroyed by waves, spray concrete has been pumped into the cliff behind the track. |
| The aim is to make the area safer, with more high winds and large waves expected. | The aim is to make the area safer, with more high winds and large waves expected. |
| The BBC's Jenny Hill, in Paignton on the south Devon coast, says the main concern is the high tide between 11:00 and 12:00 GMT. | The BBC's Jenny Hill, in Paignton on the south Devon coast, says the main concern is the high tide between 11:00 and 12:00 GMT. |
| "Waves will get higher and higher, impacting sea defences which have already taken quite a battering," she said. | "Waves will get higher and higher, impacting sea defences which have already taken quite a battering," she said. |
| The Environment Agency says there is a significant risk of further flooding on Saturday throughout Devon and Cornwall. | The Environment Agency says there is a significant risk of further flooding on Saturday throughout Devon and Cornwall. |
| An amber rain warning for southern England expired at 06:00 GMT, but a less severe yellow warning is valid until 06:00 GMT on Sunday. | An amber rain warning for southern England expired at 06:00 GMT, 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. |
| Jacob Cope, of the BBC Weather Centre, said winds would strengthen through the day and peak in the mid-afternoon. | Jacob Cope, of the BBC Weather Centre, said winds would strengthen through the day and peak in the mid-afternoon. |
| He said the high wind speeds would continue through the evening before easing early on Sunday. | He said the high wind speeds would continue through the evening before easing early on Sunday. |
| Even in some inland areas, winds of 40-50mph would be seen, he added. | Even in some inland areas, winds of 40-50mph would be seen, he added. |
| He also warned that Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could get 20-30mm (1in) of rain through the course of Saturday. | He also warned that Wales, north-west England and south-west Scotland could get 20-30mm (1in) of rain through the course of Saturday. |
| In other developments: | |
| Defences breached | Defences breached |
| At Kingsand in Cornwall, where dozens of homes were damaged by huge waves on Wednesday, the BBC's Dominic Hurst said Friday night's high tide passed with "no apparent new damage" to properties. | At Kingsand in Cornwall, where dozens of homes were damaged by huge waves on Wednesday, the BBC's Dominic Hurst said Friday night's high tide passed with "no apparent new damage" to properties. |
| The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - in place, both in Somerset. | The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings - which mean "danger to life" - in place, both in Somerset. |
| The agency has also issued more than 190 flood warnings and more than 300 flood alerts. | The agency has also issued more than 190 flood warnings and more than 300 flood alerts. |
| One of the areas covered by a severe flood warning is the village of Moorland, 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. | One of the areas covered by a severe flood warning is the village of Moorland, 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. |
| On Friday Prime Minister David Cameron and Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith visited the Somerset Levels, which have been severely affected by flooding for several weeks. | On Friday Prime Minister David Cameron and Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith visited the Somerset Levels, which have been severely affected by flooding for several weeks. |
| Resident Jim Winkworth accused Lord Smith of "letting everyone down" by not doing more to help, but Lord Smith said he was very proud of the work his agency had done. | Resident Jim Winkworth accused Lord Smith of "letting everyone down" by not doing more to help, but Lord Smith said he was very proud of the work his agency had done. |
| Mr Cameron admitted there were "lessons to learn" from the flooding in Somerset. | Mr Cameron admitted there were "lessons to learn" from the flooding in Somerset. |
| On Wednesday the prime minister announced an extra £100m would be spent over the next year tackling the aftermath of recent flooding. | On Wednesday the prime minister announced an extra £100m would be spent over the next year tackling the aftermath of recent flooding. |
| But according to a report in the Times, a letter was sent to the Downing Street last summer warning of the danger of flooding in the Somerset Levels. | But according to a report in the Times, a letter was sent to the Downing Street last summer warning of the danger of flooding in the Somerset Levels. |
| The letter requested help to fund dredging, but it was passed to the floods minister and he rejected the plea, the newspaper reported. | The letter requested help to fund dredging, but it was passed to the floods minister and he rejected the plea, the newspaper reported. |
| On Friday evening Local Government Minister Eric Pickles chaired the latest of many recent meetings of Cobra, the government's emergency committee, to discuss flooding. | On Friday evening Local Government Minister Eric Pickles chaired the latest of many recent meetings of Cobra, the government's emergency committee, to discuss flooding. |
| "We continue to make sure every preparation is made before the severe weather expected this weekend and the following days," he said afterwards. | "We continue to make sure every preparation is made before the severe weather expected this weekend and the following days," he said afterwards. |
| "I ask everyone to remain vigilant and follow the advice being issued by the Environment Agency." | "I ask everyone to remain vigilant and follow the advice being issued by the Environment Agency." |
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