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| Flooding brings more travel chaos | Flooding brings more travel chaos |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of rail passengers travelling between London and Wales have been affected by flooding. | Thousands of rail passengers travelling between London and Wales have been affected by flooding. |
| First Great Western said there were service delays, alterations and cancellations on services because of flooding in the West Country. | First Great Western said there were service delays, alterations and cancellations on services because of flooding in the West Country. |
| Many roads including the M4 and M5 interchange were affected by snowfall and flooding, with fears that homes and businesses could also be affected. | Many roads including the M4 and M5 interchange were affected by snowfall and flooding, with fears that homes and businesses could also be affected. |
| Bristol Airport temporarily closed its runway and advised of delays. | Bristol Airport temporarily closed its runway and advised of delays. |
| West Country train operator First Great Western (FGW) said tickets for Friday would be valid for Saturday and Sunday and advised people not to travel unless necessary. | West Country train operator First Great Western (FGW) said tickets for Friday would be valid for Saturday and Sunday and advised people not to travel unless necessary. |
| The track between Swindon and Bath Spa was reported to be under water, with flooding to the west of Swindon also causing major problems. | The track between Swindon and Bath Spa was reported to be under water, with flooding to the west of Swindon also causing major problems. |
| Further heavy rain is expected later on Sunday and there may be further localised flooding problems BBC meteorologist Richard Angwin | Further heavy rain is expected later on Sunday and there may be further localised flooding problems BBC meteorologist Richard Angwin |
| FGW also confirmed flooding around Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, as well as in Gloucester. Some services have been replaced with buses. | FGW also confirmed flooding around Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, as well as in Gloucester. Some services have been replaced with buses. |
| Several hundred people were reported to be stranded at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. | Several hundred people were reported to be stranded at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. |
| On the roads, the M5 northbound was affected near junction 20 after a crash and a series of A-roads were flooded. | On the roads, the M5 northbound was affected near junction 20 after a crash and a series of A-roads were flooded. |
| These include the A39 Bath to Wells road, the A378 near Taunton, the A370 at Backwell, which has been badly affected, and the A420. | These include the A39 Bath to Wells road, the A378 near Taunton, the A370 at Backwell, which has been badly affected, and the A420. |
| Children rescued | Children rescued |
| About 40 children had to be rescued from a primary school in North Somerset after a flooded road cut off access. | About 40 children had to be rescued from a primary school in North Somerset after a flooded road cut off access. |
| Some children were rescued from Chew Lake Primary School using a tractor. | Some children were rescued from Chew Lake Primary School using a tractor. |
| Head teacher Sarah Fuller said: "The children were excited and we played the incident down. The team of staff was absolutely fantastic. They got on the phones and told parents to come and collect their children." | Head teacher Sarah Fuller said: "The children were excited and we played the incident down. The team of staff was absolutely fantastic. They got on the phones and told parents to come and collect their children." |
| "One couple trying to collect their children had their car swept away - it's been written off and it's now in farmland." | "One couple trying to collect their children had their car swept away - it's been written off and it's now in farmland." |
| Gloucestershire Police are monitoring the situation and a flood watch has been put in place on the River Severn. An emergency centre has been opened by the county council. | Gloucestershire Police are monitoring the situation and a flood watch has been put in place on the River Severn. An emergency centre has been opened by the county council. |
| Snow started to fall on Friday afternoon | Snow started to fall on Friday afternoon |
| Tim Aston, 40, and his wife and children have been living in a caravan on the driveway of their home in Tewkesbury since being flooded in July. | Tim Aston, 40, and his wife and children have been living in a caravan on the driveway of their home in Tewkesbury since being flooded in July. |
| "The kids have been sent home early from school because the river's coming up again," he said. | "The kids have been sent home early from school because the river's coming up again," he said. |
| "It's really falling down here - I've got deja vu. We're feeling frazzled, we've really been through a lot and now we're twitchy." | "It's really falling down here - I've got deja vu. We're feeling frazzled, we've really been through a lot and now we're twitchy." |
| At Chilcompton, two ladies had to be rescued after a car became trapped in water. One person was rescued on the Long Ashton bypass near Bristol in similar circumstances. | |
| Flooding of houses and shops has also been reported on Gloucester Road in Bristol, Limpley Stoke, Lansdown, Hinton Charterhouse, Winford and Paulton. | Flooding of houses and shops has also been reported on Gloucester Road in Bristol, Limpley Stoke, Lansdown, Hinton Charterhouse, Winford and Paulton. |
| Winterbourne and Frampton Cottrell were also said to be affected, as was the A36 from Bath to Beckington. | Winterbourne and Frampton Cottrell were also said to be affected, as was the A36 from Bath to Beckington. |
| Weather forecast | Weather forecast |
| Highways experts warned that the snow and rain could turn to ice overnight and warned drivers to be careful. | Highways experts warned that the snow and rain could turn to ice overnight and warned drivers to be careful. |
| BBC meteorologist Richard Angwin said: "Between 25 and 35 millimetres of rain, sleet and snow fell across the region. That is about one third of the average January rainfall. | BBC meteorologist Richard Angwin said: "Between 25 and 35 millimetres of rain, sleet and snow fell across the region. That is about one third of the average January rainfall. |
| "Whilst rain, sleet and snow will continue to fall during the evening it is expected to become dry and clear later tonight leading to freezing temperatures. | "Whilst rain, sleet and snow will continue to fall during the evening it is expected to become dry and clear later tonight leading to freezing temperatures. |
| "Icy stretches are expected on untreated roads and drivers are advised to take great care on the roads. | "Icy stretches are expected on untreated roads and drivers are advised to take great care on the roads. |
| "Further heavy rain is expected later on Sunday and there may be further localised flooding problems." | "Further heavy rain is expected later on Sunday and there may be further localised flooding problems." |