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| UK floods: Thames reaches record water levels | UK floods: Thames reaches record water levels |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Several water gauges along the River Thames have measured record levels as flood waters continue to rise. | Several water gauges along the River Thames have measured record levels as flood waters continue to rise. |
| Fourteen severe flood warnings are in place along a stretch of the river in Berkshire and Surrey, with police warning 2,500 Surrey homes are at risk. | Fourteen severe flood warnings are in place along a stretch of the river in Berkshire and Surrey, with police warning 2,500 Surrey homes are at risk. |
| The Environment Agency is also warning of rising water in the Somerset Levels. | The Environment Agency is also warning of rising water in the Somerset Levels. |
| The agency's chairman, Lord Smith, has hit back at critics, saying that his staff knew "100 times" more about flooding than any politician. | |
| Speaking in the wake of comments by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, Lord Smith said his agency was "bound by the rules" of politicians. | |
| 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. | |
| "The Environment Agency is bound by the rules that are laid down by government." | |
| 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. |
| Several Thames gauges are currently showing their highest levels since being installed in the 1980s and 90s. | Several Thames gauges are currently 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 further two warnings for the south-west of England in Salt Moor and East Lyng. | |
| Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to visit flood-affected areas in the South West later this morning. | |
| Water levels in the South East are expected to rise despite the fact that significant rainfall is not expected during the day. | |
| Armed forces personnel were in the heavily populated area on Sunday night building a 2ft-high (60cm) defence to try to divert the river away from homes. | Armed forces personnel were in the heavily populated area on Sunday night building a 2ft-high (60cm) defence to try to divert the river away from homes. |
| 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." | |
| And 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. |
| Robin Gisby, managing director of Network Rail, said his team were watching "several hundred" sites across England carefully and monitoring the situation. | Robin Gisby, managing director of Network Rail, said his team were watching "several hundred" sites across England carefully and monitoring the situation. |
| He said: "The Thames is rising now to levels not seen for many, many years. | He said: "The Thames is rising now to levels not seen for many, many years. |
| "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." |
| In Worcester, large parts of the city centre could be closed for a week because of flooding, the county council has said. | |
| Twenty-nine flood warnings remain in place for the Teme, Wye, Avon and Severn across Herefordshire and Worcestershire and Worcester Bridge has been shut. | |
| Two severe flood warnings remain in place in Somerset, and more than 300 less serious warnings and alerts have been issued, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. | Two severe flood warnings remain in place in Somerset, and more than 300 less serious warnings and alerts have been issued, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. |
| Speaking specifically about Somerset, an Environment Agency spokesman said: "We're expecting the water levels to rise as the rain comes in, but we're working around the clock." | |
| 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. |
| The long-range forecast suggested there could be longer spells of dry weather in the south of England towards the end of the month, he added. | The long-range forecast suggested there could be longer spells of dry weather in the south of England towards the end of the month, he added. |
| Train troubles | Train troubles |
| 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". | 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 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 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. | The line from Waterloo to Exeter via Yeovil, closed by a landslip at Crewkerne on Saturday, has reopened. |
| In other developments on Sunday: | In other developments on Sunday: |
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