More rain forecast as clean-up begins

Extra rain is because of fall on Tuesday and Wednesday in southern England and south Wales, the place flooding and excessive winds from Storm Bert have induced main disruption to properties, roads and rail networks.

At the very least 5 individuals have died within the storm that struck a lot of the UK over the weekend and prompted criticism a couple of lack of preparation and inadequate warnings.

The extreme flood warning for the River Nene in Northamptonshire stays in pressure with a “hazard to life and danger of serious disruption”, as a vacation park has been submerged for the third time this 12 months.

Surroundings Secretary Steve Reed mentioned extra flooding is probably going this week nevertheless it must be “much less extreme” than on Sunday.

He advised the Commons on Monday round 28,000 properties had been being protected by Surroundings Company flood defences.

He mentioned an estimated 107 properties had flooded throughout England, “principally from river and floor water flooding”.

Residents of flood-hit areas are being left with main clean-up jobs, with one enterprise proprietor telling the BBC her retailer had been devastated.

“All the pieces’s been worn out this time,” mentioned Laura Jones, whose crafts store in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, was hit.

“Enterprise is completely completed, flooding has wiped us out one too many instances.”

Politicians and residents in south Wales, one of many areas worst hit by the flooding, have criticised what they are saying is an absence of preparation and inadequate warning from officers.

A clean-up operation is beneath means in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, the place locals mentioned classes weren’t discovered from Storm Dennis, which left a lot of the city beneath water in 2020.

One resident, Paula, mentioned authorities “promised us the world, and delivered completely nothing”.

An estimated 200 properties have been flooded within the space.

Andrew Morgan, chief of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, mentioned he was “amazed” that solely a yellow climate warning was put in place.

Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru Senedd member for South Wales Central, mentioned the warnings got here too late: “It is simply by luck that it wasn’t worse this.”

The Surroundings Company issued greater than 100 warnings – that means flooding is predicted – and almost 150 flood alerts throughout England on Monday.

Police there are warning in opposition to all pointless journey, and have advised individuals “to not drive by means of floodwater of any depth”.

The native hearth and rescue service mentioned it was working to evacuate the Billing Aquadrome vacation park, with round 1,000 affected.

Some residents of south-east Wales have been suggested to boil their water earlier than utilizing it to keep away from contamination.

Scotland has been much less affected by floods, with 5 warnings and alerts in place. None have been issued in Northern Eire.

However Storm Bert is now centred on the north-west of the UK and is monitoring eastwards throughout Scotland, bringing heavy showers and powerful winds.

Blocked and flooded rail traces led some prepare operators to cancel providers in a number of areas on Monday.

Nice Western Railway, which runs trains between London and south west England, suggested passengers to not journey on any of its routes.

West Midlands Railway warned of extreme disruption to a few of its routes after flooding in Northamptonshire.

Nationwide Rail has warned of disruption throughout England, Wales and Scotland and suggested prospects to examine their routes earlier than travelling.

Drivers are additionally being affected as many roads across the UK have been closed in flood-hit areas.

Extreme flooding has additionally prompted college closures.

At the very least 30 colleges had been closed in Wales on Monday with greater than a dozen closed in Wiltshire and 7 having to close in Oxfordshire.

Some 57 youngsters had been rescued from a coach taking them to high school close to Evesham, Worcestershire, when it turned caught in a flooded ditch.

College students had been ferried to dry land in a hearth service rescue boat.

In Wiltshire, Chippenham city centre was dropped at a standstill after the River Avon burst its banks.

Becky Lyons runs a pet store within the city and mentioned her premises was left beneath a number of ft of water: “I really feel a bit empty and numb. I’ve put all the things into this store.”

Ben Ruddy, whose fish and chip store was flooded in Lydney, Gloucestershire, mentioned: “The sandbags didn’t do rather a lot. Inside a few hours the water was over them.”

In Worcestershire, police are investigating footage of a tractor being pushed by means of flooded streets which induced bow waves to hit store home windows.

Louise Preston, who owns a pottery store in Tenbury Wells, mentioned her retailer’s entrance window was smashed by the water because the tractor drove previous.

West Mercia Police mentioned it was “conscious of movies circulating on social media” and is investigating.

West Midlands Fireplace Service had warned individuals in opposition to driving by means of flood water on Sunday.

Particulars have emerged concerning the 5 males who died over the weekend on account of the opposed climate.

North Wales Police confirmed a physique was discovered after Brian Perry, a 75 year-old dogwalker, went lacking close to the River Conwy in Trefriw on Sunday.

Mohammed Wahid, a 34-year-old man whose automotive hit a wall within the snow in Shipley, West Yorkshire, died on Saturday.

Three different males died in street accidents on Saturday. A person died when his automotive was hit by a tree on the A34 at Winnall, Hampshire, and one other man crashed on the A45 close to Flore, Northamptonshire, throughout rush hour.

A 3rd man, in his 80s, died after driving right into a ford in Colne, Lancashire.

The Met Workplace mentioned it might conduct a full evaluation of Bert Storm however mentioned it was “effectively forecast” prematurely with plenty of warnings issued.

Pure Assets Wales mentioned the federal government physique would “completely” look into complaints a couple of lack of preparedness.

Surroundings Secretary Steve Reed mentioned the federal government had dedicated £2.4bn to improve the UK’s flood defences, which he described as “of their worst situation on file”.