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UK floods: Severe weather expected in stricken areas UK floods: Severe weather expected in stricken areas
(35 minutes later)
More wet weather is affecting flood-stricken parts of the UK, with severe flood warnings in place along the Thames and Somerset.More wet weather is affecting flood-stricken parts of the UK, with severe flood warnings in place along the Thames and Somerset.
Fourteen severe flood warnings remain in place in Berkshire and Surrey, and two in Somerset.Fourteen severe flood warnings remain in place in Berkshire and Surrey, and two in Somerset.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC the government had got a "grip" on the crisis and everything was being done to help those affected. Prime Minister David Cameron said, on a visit to Devon, that the floods were a "huge challenge" and "we are in it for the long haul."
Meanwhile flooding is disrupting train services in parts of the country.Meanwhile flooding is disrupting train services in parts of the country.
Earlier Defence Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC the government had got a "grip" on the crisis and everything was being done to help those affected.
He said 1,600 troops were on standby across southern England, ready to move in when they are needed to help with tasks such as delivering sandbags.
Homes were flooded along the Thames in towns and villages including Chertsey, Wraysbury and Datchet and thousands more properties are still at risk. Some residents have chosen to stay in their homes.
More than 5,000 properties have been flooded in the last two months after the "most exceptional period of rainfall" to hit parts of England and Wales for nearly 250 years.
And more than 130 severe flood warnings - indicating a threat to life - have been issued since December.
Prime Minister David Cameron has continued his tour of South West, visiting the Dawlish railway line, in Devon, on Tuesday morning.
As well as there being 16 severe flood warnings the Environment Agency has also issued about 350 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands.
The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for rain across parts of south Wales and south-west England, cautioning that "with ongoing flooding in some places, any further rain will only add to the problems".The Met Office has severe weather warnings in place for rain across parts of south Wales and south-west England, cautioning that "with ongoing flooding in some places, any further rain will only add to the problems".
There are also two warnings of snow for Tuesday - covering Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland - and a warning of ice for Northern Ireland. BBC weather forecaster Laura Gilchrist said deep areas of low pressure on Wednesday could bring the strongest wind so far this winter with an amber warning - meaning "be prepared" and "possible gusts of 80mph or more in exposed areas" areas of the South West.
The Environment Agency has issued about 350 less serious flood warnings and alerts, mostly in southern England and the Midlands. Resident Alanna Burns, from Chertsey in Surrey, told the BBC water levels were still rising, there were not enough officials around and no sandbags.
There is a stronger amber warning - meaning "be prepared" - for wind for Wednesday with "possible gusts of 80mph or more in exposed areas" areas of the South West. She said people had been left like "sitting ducks waiting for it to happen".
BBC weather forecaster Laura Gilchrist said deep areas of low pressure on Wednesday could bring the strongest wind so far this winter. Chief Supt Matt Twist, of Surrey Police, said a "major incident" had been declared with more than 150 people have been rescued from flooded homes in the last 24 hours and extra police had been drafted in.
'Major incident' On the trains, because of flooding near Maidenhead, trains are having to run at a reduced speed between London Paddington and Reading, with journey times extended by up to an hour.
The warning comes after more homes were flooded and properties along the River Thames evacuated on Monday with warnings that thousands more were at risk.
Alanna Burns, of Chertsey in Surrey, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme water levels were still rising, and there were not enough officials around and no sandbags.
Residents have been left like "sitting ducks waiting for it to happen", she said.
Chief Supt Matt Twist, of Surrey Police, said extra police officers had been drafted in from Sussex to help and there were now more than 100 officers working in the area.
His force - who have declared "a major incident" - said more than 150 people had been rescued from flooded homes in the 24 hours from Sunday night.
Trains affected
On the trains because of flooding near Maidenhead, trains are having to run at a reduced speed between London Paddington and Reading, with journey times extended by up to an hour.
First Great Western is currently advising passengers not to travel.First Great Western is currently advising passengers not to travel.
Services are also suspended on South West Trains between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside due to rising water levels, and the main train line from London to Cornwall remains severed at Dawlish, in Devon.Services are also suspended on South West Trains between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside due to rising water levels, and the main train line from London to Cornwall remains severed at Dawlish, in Devon.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, who is a also MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, said the "issue at the moment is getting help to people".Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, who is a also MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, said the "issue at the moment is getting help to people".
He said: "The government has got a grip on this. The emergency services are in the lead and they're properly organised with gold commands in place across the affected areas of the country." "The government has got a grip on this. The emergency services are in the lead, " he said.
"The military has been mobilised to provide additional support where the gold commanders need it. Additional money has been made available. Equipment has been brought in, in some cases from abroad, and more equipment is on the way. He added that the military had been called in and extra money given.
"Equipment has been brought in, in some cases from abroad, and more equipment is on the way.
"The assets that are needed from across the nation have been mobilised into the areas affected.""The assets that are needed from across the nation have been mobilised into the areas affected."
Asked about Environment Agency Chairman Lord Smith, who has faced criticism for not doing enough to help those affected, he said: "I don't want to spend the time now in the middle of this crisis recriminating and finger pointing. Asked about Environment Agency Chairman Lord Smith, who has faced criticism for not doing enough to help those affected, he said: "I don't want to spend the time now in the middle of this crisis recriminating and finger pointing."
"It would be a great disservice to people who are facing flood waters lapping around the thresholds of their houses, to spend our time now arguing about what feel like rather esoteric questions frankly." As to whether he backed Lord Smith, he said: "Politicians 'don't do yes. no' questions."
Asked if he backed Lord Smith, he said: "Politicians 'don't do yes. no' questions." The Environment Agency board has also written a letter to its employees "fully supporting" Lord Smith and saying the criticism of it staff was "ill-informed and unfair".
Meanwhile the Environment Agency board has also backed Lord Smith.
Meanwhile, as David Cameron continued his tour of South West, visiting the Dawlish railway line, Environment Agency board members wrote to employees in a show of support telling them they had been "consistently impressed by the professionalism, commitment and resilience of staff, managers and directors - and never more so than in the last two months".
"So we have been deeply concerned about the recent campaign of criticism, particularly around the handling of flooding in Somerset," it continues.
"We think this criticism is ill-informed and unfair - and we particularly deplore the personal nature of some of it."
The letter said the board members "fully" supported their chairman.
'Extreme forces'
Lord Smith told BBC Two's Newsnight "extreme natural forces" had been "having a go at us and we need to find the best possible ways of defending ourselves against them. We've all made mistakes, everyone has made mistakes."Lord Smith told BBC Two's Newsnight "extreme natural forces" had been "having a go at us and we need to find the best possible ways of defending ourselves against them. We've all made mistakes, everyone has made mistakes."
He blamed Treasury spending rules which, he says, meant the agency was not allowed to spend any more money on dredging the flood-hit Somerset Levels.He blamed Treasury spending rules which, he says, meant the agency was not allowed to spend any more money on dredging the flood-hit Somerset Levels.
The Treasury has declined to comment.The Treasury has declined to comment.
More than 5,000 properties have been flooded in the past two months, the Environment Agency has said, following the "most exceptional period of rainfall" to hit parts of England and Wales for 248 years.
The Environment Agency's Pete Fox said up to 900 homes had been flooded since the end of last week.
More than 130 severe flood warnings - indicating a threat to life - have been issued since December.