This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26153889

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
UK storms: Met Office issues 'Red Warning' for wind UK storms: 'Red warning' for wind as coastal areas lashed
(35 minutes later)
Winds of up to 100mph are expected to batter west Wales and north-west England, with the Met Office issuing its first "red warning" of the winter. Winds gusting at over 100mph have been recorded as a huge storm batters the UK and the Met Office issued its first "red warning" of the winter.
The warning for 13:30 to 21:00 GMT means there is a "risk to life" and people should "avoid dangerous areas" with widespread damage expected. The warning, valid until 21:00 GMT, means there is a "risk to life" and people should "avoid dangerous areas", with widespread damage expected.
Sixteen severe flood warnings remain for Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset.Sixteen severe flood warnings remain for Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset.
Meanwhile, David Cameron has repeated his pledge that "money is no object in this relief effort". In the Commons, David Cameron repeated his pledge that "money is no object in this relief effort".
He also announced money would be available for businesses and homeowners repairing flood-damaged property to build in new defences and said small businesses affected by flooding would get 100% relief from business rates. He unveiled a package of measures to help businesses and homeowners repairing flood-damaged property to build in new defences and said small businesses affected by flooding would get 100% relief from business rates.
Wind gusts of 110mph have been recorded off the coast of southern Ireland, with 92mph gusts at Mumbles Head, South Wales. The Met Office said a wind gust of 105mph was recorded at Aberdaron, North Wales - the strongest wind gust on land of the recent storms.
Aberdaron in North Wales has experienced 81mph winds, with the same speed recorded in Plymouth, Devon. Gusts of 110mph were recorded at sea off the coast of the southern Irish Republic.
The Met Office said: "Winds of this strength can cause widespread structural damage, bringing down trees and also leading to loss of power supplies. Electric power cables and trees have been brought down by winds of up to 94mph, blocking roads in Devon and Cornwall.
"In addition, large waves are likely to affect some coasts. The public should take action to alter their travel arrangements during this spell of storm force winds." The Met Office said: "Winds of this strength can cause widespread structural damage, bringing down trees and also leading to loss of power supplies."
They advised people to change their travel plans during the storm-force winds.
The advice came as it was announced that the West Coast Main Line will close at 19:00 GMT due to high winds. Robin Gisby, managing director for network operations at Network Rail, said it would be closed for a couple of hours.
BBC forecaster Darren Bett told the News Channel red weather warnings were very rare. "You usually get one or two per year. It's the highest level of alert - it's very serious, it's life threatening and it means people should take action now. It does not get any worse than that," he says.BBC forecaster Darren Bett told the News Channel red weather warnings were very rare. "You usually get one or two per year. It's the highest level of alert - it's very serious, it's life threatening and it means people should take action now. It does not get any worse than that," he says.
Other updates include:Other updates include:
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron told MPs there would be "no penny pinching" when it came to funding flood relief effort and the government would "spend whatever is necessary" on immediate support for flood-affected communities, including sandbags and military help.Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron told MPs there would be "no penny pinching" when it came to funding flood relief effort and the government would "spend whatever is necessary" on immediate support for flood-affected communities, including sandbags and military help.
But Labour leader Ed Miliband said he had doubts about this "grand promise" of financial help and those still at risk needed a "speedier response".But Labour leader Ed Miliband said he had doubts about this "grand promise" of financial help and those still at risk needed a "speedier response".
He urged the government to reconsider planned cuts to the Environment Agency and said it should be spending more on flood defences in the future to make the UK more resilient.He urged the government to reconsider planned cuts to the Environment Agency and said it should be spending more on flood defences in the future to make the UK more resilient.
Mr Cameron accused his Labour counterpart of "dividing the nation" over the issue of flooding at a time when the country should be pulling together in the face of adversity.Mr Cameron accused his Labour counterpart of "dividing the nation" over the issue of flooding at a time when the country should be pulling together in the face of adversity.
BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said a Downing Street source accused critics of "deliberate mischief making" by suggesting the prime minister was backtracking on his commitment to provide whatever money was necessary for the current crisis. BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said: "I think it's true to say that Mr Cameron won himself big and bold headlines with his assertion that money was no object - but today that assertion is looking a lot less big and bold and may in fact be much more of a political millstone.
"This is because we have learned this is not new money, this is money from existing departmental contingency budgets and this means that money is much more limited."
Aides to the prime minister say the pledge related to the present relief effort and not to any wider spending commitment.Aides to the prime minister say the pledge related to the present relief effort and not to any wider spending commitment.
A source accused critics of "deliberate mischief making" by suggesting the prime minister was backtracking on his commitment to provide whatever money was necessary for the current crisis.A source accused critics of "deliberate mischief making" by suggesting the prime minister was backtracking on his commitment to provide whatever money was necessary for the current crisis.
Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on the flood crisis and will lead another meeting at 17:30 GMT. Earlier on Wednesday, the prime minister chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on the flood crisis. He will lead another meeting at 17:30 GMT.
Chancellor George Osborne was among those at the meeting even though he does not normally attend - our correspondent said this was "to rein in any of his colleagues who suddenly thought that the coffers were open and they could help themselves".Chancellor George Osborne was among those at the meeting even though he does not normally attend - our correspondent said this was "to rein in any of his colleagues who suddenly thought that the coffers were open and they could help themselves".
Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster told the committee that water levels could rise to "higher than current levels" over the coming weekend. Environment Agency chief executive Paul Leinster told the committee that water levels could rise to "higher than current levels" over the weekend, with particular concerns about the Thames between Oxford to Maidenhead and also below Maidenhead.
He said: "Oxford to Maidenhead we think could rise over the next five days and may lead to more flooding in that area.
"Below Maidenhead, the levels are holding at the current level but potentially over the weekend and going into the beginning of next week they could rise to higher than the current levels."
The BBC's Ben Geoghegan, in Wraysbury, Berkshire, overnight, said the local primary school had been turned into "24/7 control centre" for residents affected by flooding.
Lucy Foster, who has been helping to run the operation, said the village had been "looking after itself for a long, long time and morale was getting very low, energy levels were getting low".
"Finally we've got the boys and girls that we need - we've got the Army, the police force, the fire service and getting a lot of support from them and a lot of direction from them, which is what was needed."
Our correspondent said that, with so many homes in the village evacuated, there was a real fear some of the empty properties might be looted so the Army had set up checkpoints on some roads to monitor overnight who comes and who goes.
'Unprecedented' flooding'Unprecedented' flooding
More than 1,000 homes have been evacuated along the Thames after towns and villages including Wraysbury, Chertsey and Datchet were flooded.More than 1,000 homes have been evacuated along the Thames after towns and villages including Wraysbury, Chertsey and Datchet were flooded.
In Datchet, more than 1,700 properties were hit by a power cut on Tuesday evening. Scottish and Southern Energy said power had been restored to all residents by 00:30 GMT although a separate problem meant about 25 properties had temporarily lost power in the early hours.
Chief Supt Matt Twist, of Surrey Police, said the flooding in the county was "unprecedented" and warned that a further 2,500 homes were at risk.Chief Supt Matt Twist, of Surrey Police, said the flooding in the county was "unprecedented" and warned that a further 2,500 homes were at risk.
An 85-year-old resident forced to leave her bungalow in one Surrey village spent the night at an evacuation centre.An 85-year-old resident forced to leave her bungalow in one Surrey village spent the night at an evacuation centre.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a "terrible experience". "I want to go, I want to get out of it [community evacuation centre] really, because you can't live like this, can you?She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a "terrible experience". "I want to go, I want to get out of it [community evacuation centre] really, because you can't live like this, can you?
"I know everybody's in the same boat but I can't go back home.""I know everybody's in the same boat but I can't go back home."
Further evacuations have been taking place in the Staines and Egham area. Almost 6,000 properties have been flooded altogether in the past two months.Further evacuations have been taking place in the Staines and Egham area. Almost 6,000 properties have been flooded altogether in the past two months.
About 100 properties remain flooded on the Somerset Levels, where extra pumps are being brought in from the Netherlands, and groundwater flooding is also expected in the coming days in Hampshire, Kent and parts of London.About 100 properties remain flooded on the Somerset Levels, where extra pumps are being brought in from the Netherlands, and groundwater flooding is also expected in the coming days in Hampshire, Kent and parts of London.
As well as 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.As well as 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 agency said it looked "increasingly likely" there would be problems along the River Severn and River Wye.The agency said it looked "increasingly likely" there would be problems along the River Severn and River Wye.
And it said groundwater levels were so high in some parts of the country that flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months.And it said groundwater levels were so high in some parts of the country that flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months flooding was likely to persist for weeks or even months.
Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions