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| UK floods: Homes evacuated as swollen Thames keeps rising | UK floods: Homes evacuated as swollen Thames keeps rising |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Flooded homes along the River Thames are being evacuated and thousands more are at risk, with water levels expected to rise further over the next 24 hours. | Flooded homes along the River Thames are being evacuated and thousands more are at risk, with water levels expected to rise further over the next 24 hours. |
| Residents in one Berkshire village say the scenes are from a "horror movie". | Residents in one Berkshire village say the scenes are from a "horror movie". |
| Fourteen severe flood warnings are in place in Berkshire and Surrey, while two remain in Somerset. | Fourteen severe flood warnings are in place in Berkshire and Surrey, while two remain in Somerset. |
| PM David Cameron - who is in flood-hit Dorset - said it was not the time to change personnel amid criticism of Environment Agency head Lord Smith. | PM David Cameron - who is in flood-hit Dorset - said it was not the time to change personnel amid criticism of Environment Agency head Lord Smith. |
| Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has been answering an urgent question put by Labour in the Commons on the flooding crisis. | Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has been answering an urgent question put by Labour in the Commons on the flooding crisis. |
| Homes, shops and businesses in the Berkshire village of Datchet are underwater and hundreds more along the lower River Thames, as far as Shepperton, are under threat, the Environment Agency says. | |
| 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. |
| Fire crews, who have been rescuing people from their homes in Staines, say they have never known waters so deep or a flood rescue operation on this scale. | Fire crews, who have been rescuing people from their homes in Staines, say they have never known waters so deep or a flood rescue operation on this scale. |
| In Windsor, Councillor Colin Rayner pleaded for the police and Army for help. | In Windsor, Councillor Colin Rayner pleaded for the police and Army for help. |
| "We've got 50 volunteers here, we've got the vulnerable people out of their homes, now we need to get everyone else out," he said | "We've got 50 volunteers here, we've got the vulnerable people out of their homes, now we need to get everyone else out," he said |
| Nearby, in the Berkshire village of Colnbrook, resident Asif Khan said his whole street was under water, his house was flooded and his fridge "just went bang". | Nearby, in the Berkshire village of Colnbrook, resident Asif Khan said his whole street was under water, his house was flooded and his fridge "just went bang". |
| "It's something out of a horror movie," he said, adding that he was now about to try to evacuate with his two small children. | "It's something out of a horror movie," he said, adding that he was now about to try to evacuate with his two small children. |
| Hurst village resident Paul Palmer said sewers there were blocked and they have been unable to use the toilet since Friday. | Hurst village resident Paul Palmer said sewers there were blocked and they have been unable to use the toilet since Friday. |
| "It's starting to back up into the toilet - it's like going back to the dark ages," he told the BBC. | "It's starting to back up into the toilet - it's like going back to the dark ages," he told the BBC. |
| 'Silly political points' | |
| The urgent Commons question from Labour follows a deepening political row. | The urgent Commons question from Labour follows a deepening political row. |
| Mr Pickles, who is standing in for Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, told MPs that there was a "high risk that the Thames, the Severn and the Wye will flood in the middle of the week". | Mr Pickles, who is standing in for Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, told MPs that there was a "high risk that the Thames, the Severn and the Wye will flood in the middle of the week". |
| But he said extra efforts were being made to deal with the problem. | But he said extra efforts were being made to deal with the problem. |
| "It is wrong to suggest that I have issued even the slightest criticism of the work of the Environment Agency. I believe we should work together, and not to make silly party political points," he added. | "It is wrong to suggest that I have issued even the slightest criticism of the work of the Environment Agency. I believe we should work together, and not to make silly party political points," he added. |
| Last week, Mr Pickles said ministers had been given bad advice by the agency over river dredging. | Last week, Mr Pickles said ministers had been given bad advice by the agency over river dredging. |
| Agency chairman Lord Smith hit back, saying his staff knew "100 times" more about flooding than any politician and insisted again he would not resign. | Agency chairman Lord Smith hit back, saying his staff knew "100 times" more about flooding than any politician and insisted again he would not resign. |
| Speaking from Portland, off the Dorset coast, Mr Cameron said: "I am only interested in one thing and that is making sure that everything government can do is being done and will go on being done to help people through this difficult time. | Speaking from Portland, off the Dorset coast, Mr Cameron said: "I am only interested in one thing and that is making sure that everything government can do is being done and will go on being done to help people through this difficult time. |
| "There will be time later on to talk about things. Right now everybody's got to focus on the job in hand." | "There will be time later on to talk about things. Right now everybody's got to focus on the job in hand." |
| Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Mr Pickles are thought to be at odds over the performance of the Environment Agency. | Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson and Mr Pickles are thought to be at odds over the performance of the Environment Agency. |
| No 10 did not deny Mr Paterson had complained about his colleague but said both were doing an "excellent job". | No 10 did not deny Mr Paterson had complained about his colleague but said both were doing an "excellent job". |
| Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was in Burrowbridge in Somerset, 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." | Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who was in Burrowbridge in Somerset, 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." |
| Among other developments: | Among other developments: |
| Major incident | Major incident |
| Thames Valley Police have declared a "major incident" in east Berkshire. | Thames Valley Police have declared a "major incident" in east Berkshire. |
| Howard Davidson, from the Environment Agency, said he expects conditions in Berkshire to deteriorate as more rain falls over the coming days. | Howard Davidson, from the Environment Agency, said he expects conditions in Berkshire to deteriorate as more rain falls over the coming days. |
| "We have issued flood warnings from Datchet down to Shepperton, and we urge people to take heed of the flood warnings. We are anticipating another three or four inches on the Thames over the next 24 hours." | "We have issued flood warnings from Datchet down to Shepperton, and we urge people to take heed of the flood warnings. We are anticipating another three or four inches on the Thames over the next 24 hours." |
| The Environment Agency said it had never issued as many severe flood warnings and that many areas had seen more than 200% of their average rainfall. | The Environment Agency said it had never issued as many severe flood warnings and that many areas had seen more than 200% of their average rainfall. |
| Severe delays | Severe delays |
| Network Rail says it is concerned about 400 to 500 railway sites. Normally, at this time of year, it would be about a dozen. | Network Rail says it is concerned about 400 to 500 railway sites. Normally, at this time of year, it would be about a dozen. |
| It is also warning that problems on the rail network could last for some months. | It is also warning that problems on the rail network could last for some months. |
| Robin Gisby, managing director of Network Rail, said: "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. | Robin Gisby, managing director of Network Rail, said: "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." |
| The main rail route into Devon and Cornwall via Bridgwater remains cut off because of problems caused by flooding and storm damage. | The main rail route into Devon and Cornwall via Bridgwater remains cut off because of 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 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. | 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 by the Environment Agency, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. | More than 300 less serious warnings and alerts have been issued by the Environment Agency, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. |
| The Met Office said that between 40 and 70mm of rain was expected across South West England and South Wales between now and the end of Friday. | |
| There could be up to 90mm in Dartmoor and the Brecon Beacons, it said. | |
| Strong winds that could cause damage and disruption are expected across parts of the South West on Wednesday, it also warns. | |
| 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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