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UK floods: Thames reaches record water levels UK floods: Thames reaches record water levels
(35 minutes later)
Several water gauges along the River Thames have measured record levels as flood waters continue to rise. Thousands of homes along the River Thames are threatened with flooding as flood waters continue to rise.
Sixteen severe flood warnings are in place, including 14 in Berkshire and Surrey with police warning 2,500 homes are at risk and two in Somerset. Sixteen severe flood warnings are in place, including 14 in Berkshire and Surrey and two in Somerset.
The Environment Agency is warning of rising water in the Somerset Levels.The Environment Agency is warning of rising water in the Somerset Levels.
Its chairman Lord Smith, has hit back at critics, saying his staff knew "100 times" more about flooding than any politician.Its chairman Lord Smith, has hit back at critics, saying his staff knew "100 times" more about flooding than any politician.
"I have kept my counsel up to now, but when I hear someone criticising the expertise and the professionalism of my staff in the Environment Agency, who know 100 times more about flood risk management than any politician ever does, I'm afraid I'm not going to sit idly by, " he said."I have kept my counsel up to now, but when I hear someone criticising the expertise and the professionalism of my staff in the Environment Agency, who know 100 times more about flood risk management than any politician ever does, I'm afraid I'm not going to sit idly by, " he said.
"The Environment Agency is bound by the rules that are laid down by government.""The Environment Agency is bound by the rules that are laid down by government."
He was speaking after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said ministers had been given bad advice over river dredging.He was speaking after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said ministers had been given bad advice over river dredging.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, in Burrowbridge in Somerset on Monday, said dredging should have been done over the last few years but added: "I don't think now is the time to point the finger of blame."Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, in Burrowbridge in Somerset on Monday, said dredging should have been done over the last few years but added: "I don't think now is the time to point the finger of blame."
'Danger to life''Danger to life'
Forecasters said Monday would be the driest day of the week but rivers could continue to rise as previous rainfall worked its way downstream. Forecasters said Monday would be the driest day of the week but rivers could continue to rise as previous rainfall worked its way downstream. Among other developments:
Several Thames gauges are showing their highest levels since being installed in the 1980s and 90s.Several Thames gauges are showing their highest levels since being installed in the 1980s and 90s.
As well as the Environment Agency's 14 severe warnings - meaning "danger to life" - in areas in and around Staines, Egham, Chertsey and Datchet, there are also a two for the south-west of England in Salt Moor and East Lyng, in Somerset.
Prime Minister David Cameron is visiting flood-affected areas in the South West later.
Water levels in the South East are expected to rise although significant rainfall is not expected on Monday.
Dave McKnight, from the Environment Agency, said: "There really is a danger to life in these severe flood warning areas on the Lower Thames. We're still seeing the Thames slowly creeping up."Dave McKnight, from the Environment Agency, said: "There really is a danger to life in these severe flood warning areas on the Lower Thames. We're still seeing the Thames slowly creeping up."
Severe delays
Councillor Colin Rayner, from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, said: "We need help here. We need the police, we need the Army. We've got 50 volunteers here, we've got the vulnerable people out of their homes, now we need to get everyone else out."Councillor Colin Rayner, from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, said: "We need help here. We need the police, we need the Army. We've got 50 volunteers here, we've got the vulnerable people out of their homes, now we need to get everyone else out."
The flooding has also caused severe delays on several train lines. The flooding has also caused severe delays on several train lines, National Rail said.
Robin Gisby, managing director of Network Rail, said his team were watching "several hundred" sites across England carefully.Robin Gisby, managing director of Network Rail, said his team were watching "several hundred" sites across England carefully.
"What I think is really significant, and it has got worse overnight, is Oxford down to the Thames Valley through Didcot, Reading, Maidenhead and into Paddington."What I think is really significant, and it has got worse overnight, is Oxford down to the Thames Valley through Didcot, Reading, Maidenhead and into Paddington.
"This isn't now just flooding, this is groundwater. The land is so saturated we have got water rising up, just as much as flowing on to it. So it is difficult.""This isn't now just flooding, this is groundwater. The land is so saturated we have got water rising up, just as much as flowing on to it. So it is difficult."
'Working around the clock' Flood-swollen Thames at record levels
In Worcester, large parts of the city centre could be closed for a week because of flooding, the county council has said. The main rail route into Devon and Cornwall via Bridgwater remains cut off because problems caused by flooding and storm damage.
Twenty-nine flood warnings remain in place for the Teme, Wye, Avon and Severn across Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Worcester Bridge has been shut. The line from Paddington to Exeter via Newbury is expected to reopen later following a drop in flood water levels at Athelney.
The line from Waterloo to Exeter via Yeovil, closed due to a landslip at Crewkerne on Saturday, has reopened.
More than 300 less serious warnings and alerts have been issued, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.More than 300 less serious warnings and alerts have been issued, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.
The Met Office has no rain warnings in place for Monday, but it is warning of ice across much of the UK.The Met Office has no rain warnings in place for Monday, but it is warning of ice across much of the UK.
But forecasters say another area of low pressure is expected to reach the UK on Monday night and into Tuesday, bringing more heavy rain.But forecasters say another area of low pressure is expected to reach the UK on Monday night and into Tuesday, bringing more heavy rain.
Peter Sloss, of the BBC Weather Centre, said Monday would be the "driest day of the week" but he warned there would be 20-40mm (1-2in) of rain for many areas by the end of Thursday.Peter Sloss, of the BBC Weather Centre, said Monday would be the "driest day of the week" but he warned there would be 20-40mm (1-2in) of rain for many areas by the end of Thursday.
He said some showers would be wintry, with snow likely on higher ground in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.He said some showers would be wintry, with snow likely on higher ground in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.
National Rail said the River Thames had flooded at several locations between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside stations early on Monday. Trains in the area are cancelled and replacement buses are "not available".
The main rail route into Devon and Cornwall via Bridgwater remains cut off because problems caused by flooding and storm damage.
The line from Paddington to Exeter via Newbury is expected to reopen later following a drop in flood water levels at Athelney.
The line from Waterloo to Exeter via Yeovil, closed by a landslip at Crewkerne on Saturday, has reopened.
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