Flood-hit Brits face further gloom

BRITISH homeowners hit

Firefighters faced a deluge of calls and are appealing to the public to dial 999 only in life-threatening situations.

Monday's downpours eased yesterday but that brought little relief to property owners, who are being warned that heavy rain could return today.

Across England and Wales, 80 flood warnings are in force, with the South East, East Anglia, Midlands and North East hardest hit.

Another belt of heavy rain was set to reach south west Britain yesterday evening before spreading north east overnight and today.

Motorists have also been warned by the Met Office of snow in northern England and parts of Scotland.

Firefighters in Kent have received more than 170 flood-related calls since midday on Monday and have attended 70 incidents.

Most callers had flooded properties or cars stuck in the floodwater.

At around 5am yesterday in Norwich, a 65-year-old woman was rescued from a freezing river by a police sergeant.

Police said the officer stayed with the woman, who is thought to have accidentally fallen in, until firefighters arrived and helped him to get her to the river bank.

The woman, who is being treated in a local hospital, had been reported missing from her home a few hours earlier.

Firefighters were also called to help two boys who became stranded while fishing at a river in Costessey,

Norfolk.

Several rivers remain swollen in East Anglia, said the Environment Agency. Those causing concern include the Cam at Cambridge and the Great Ouse, which runs through Cambridge. Police said there had been flooding problems in a number of towns and villages near the Crouch on Monday night. Areas hit included Billericay, Tilbury and Canvey Island.

Kent, Essex and Sussex were worst off when more than an inch of rain fell, leading to scores of flood warnings being put in place.

The number of flood warnings decreased yesterday However, the Environment Agency said more rain today would probably lead to a rise in flood warnings.

Agency spokesman Ray Kemp said: "Our biggest concern now is whether today will be dry enough for long enough before the next band of rain comes in tomorrow.

"If it is as predicted, there will almost certainly be a lot more homes flooded. There were only a few

yesterday."

Met Office head of forecasting Ewen McCallum said: "On their own these spells of rain wouldn't be particularly eventful but, with little let-up between each one, the risk of localised flooding will continue for some days yet."

Villagers in Yalding, Kent, were fearing the worst as the River Medway reached the thresholds of homes.

Yalding shopkeeper Philip East said: "After the last floods we are more apprehensive. It does not look too promising but we will have to wait and see. It is the worst it's been since 2000."