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Train stuck in flood water after storms in southern England | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Passengers had to be rescued by boat after a train became trapped in flood water during a night of storms in southern England. | |
Ninety people on the train, which got stuck near Corsham, Wiltshire, were trapped for four hours. | |
Commuters using First Great Western and Southeastern railways are being warned of cancellations due to heavy rain. | |
Lightning also struck across Bristol and in Wiltshire where one house was significantly damaged in Melksham. | |
'Fed and watered' | |
The First Great Western train travelling between London Paddington and Swansea became stranded in flood water shortly after 01:00 BST on Friday at Pound Pill in Corsham. | |
The train came to a halt in a cutting where water was up to one metre-deep (3ft) in places within the space of an hour. | |
Dan Payne from First Great Western said: "We had to keep them fed and watered until we could get them to a place of safety and with the help of the fire brigade and emergency services evacuate them by around half-past four this morning." | |
Engineers are at the site waiting for the flood water to subside before they can check to see if it is safe to move the train. | |
A Met Office warning said the thunderstorms are forecast to move through to Wales and the Midlands. | A Met Office warning said the thunderstorms are forecast to move through to Wales and the Midlands. |
Forecaster Nicola Willis said there had been between 0.4 and 0.8ins (10 and 20mm) of rainfall over a four-hour period this morning. | Forecaster Nicola Willis said there had been between 0.4 and 0.8ins (10 and 20mm) of rainfall over a four-hour period this morning. |
"That is quite a significant amount of rainfall," she said. "There have also been quite a few lightning strikes over that period." | "That is quite a significant amount of rainfall," she said. "There have also been quite a few lightning strikes over that period." |
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service also said it had received more than 200 calls for assistance from 21:00 BST on Thursday due to the severe weather. | |
In Steeple Ashton, the high street in the village was hit by floods overnight. | In Steeple Ashton, the high street in the village was hit by floods overnight. |
Southeastern said there had been a complete loss of signalling between Otford and Eynsford, affecting services between Ashford International and London Victoria via Maidstone East. | Southeastern said there had been a complete loss of signalling between Otford and Eynsford, affecting services between Ashford International and London Victoria via Maidstone East. |
In Melksham, Wiltshire, one couple's home was struck by lightning and caught fire overnight. | In Melksham, Wiltshire, one couple's home was struck by lightning and caught fire overnight. |
A fire brigade spokesman confirmed there was "significant damage" to the roof and loft space, as well as water damage inside. | A fire brigade spokesman confirmed there was "significant damage" to the roof and loft space, as well as water damage inside. |
Several flats were flooded in Dawlish, Devon, after heavy rainfall overnight, Devon and Somerset Fire Service said. | Several flats were flooded in Dawlish, Devon, after heavy rainfall overnight, Devon and Somerset Fire Service said. |
It received six calls reporting flooding at about 05:50 BST although no-one was injured. | It received six calls reporting flooding at about 05:50 BST although no-one was injured. |