Flooding chaos across the UK

Torrential rain caused flooding chaos throughout Britain today with emergency services stretched to the limit.

Hundreds of homes were affected by persistent downpours which hit most of the country yesterday and continued overnight.

Among the worst hit areas were south-west Scotland, west Wales and Cumbria.

A severe flood warning “with serious danger to life and property” was issued across the Teviot Valley in the Scottish Borders as water levels rose rapidly.

Fifteen flood warnings in Scotland were in place early today, while there were six similar alerts across Wales and Cumbria.

The Scottish Borders appeared worst hit after the downpours followed a weekend of heavy rain.

The PA WeatherCentre said rainfall in the region in the 24 hours until 7am today could match the average month figure of at least 70mm.

A total of 63mm fell in Eskdalemuir in just 12 hours yesterday between 6am and 6pm, while 100m – nearly four inches – fell in Milford Haven, south Wales, between 6pm on Monday and 6pm last night.

PA WeatherCentre forecaster Jeremy Plester predicted rain would ease off in the worst affected areas later today.

He said: “The heavy rain will continue in south-west Scotland, Wales, south-west England and northern England early today but should relent by the end of the morning.

“However, a fresh band of heavy rain is due to hit southern Englandcoastal regions in the morning and will spread to the south East and London by tonight.

“The picture should improve elsewhere tonight with just scattered showers in north-west England and northern Scotland.”

Tomorrow (Thursday) is forecast to be largely dry.

Persistent rain prompted the severe warning in the Teviot Valley last night from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).

A statement read: “Torrential rainfall across the Teviot Valley has caused the Teviot to rise rapidly this evening. Significant flooding problems are expected in the valley and in Hawick.

“This means that severe flooding is expected for the area, affecting many homes and businesses, main roads and large areas of land. There is a serious danger to life and property.”

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said they were “inundated” with reports of flooding in the town of Hawick and that at least five people needed to be rescued from their homes.

She said: “Several elderly people were rescued after they were trapped in the upper floors of their addresses.

“We assisted in evacuating many people who went to stay with friends or neighbours or later returned to the homes as the water levels eased.

She added that the number of calls later dropped off as the rain lessened.

Lothian and Borders Police said they also received many calls from the town, including reports of parked cars being swept away down streets.

Among those concerned about the rising water levels were staff at Hawick Community Hospital who alerted police.

A police spokesman said: “The hospital said they were concerned that the building could be flooded but it appears the problem may have eased as we have not had to evacuate them.”

He added that officers had not yet been involved in assisting any evacuations.

Sepa issued 15 flood warnings, mainly in the western Borders and Tayside, and 27 flood watches across the country.

Emergency services in Wales battled against floods as hundreds of homes were flooded.

Fire control in west Wales received at least 120 separate calls reporting flooding in Pembrokeshire alone, the Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade said.

Many roads across the county were closed, and others made impassable by the intensive and prolonged downpour.

Large parts of west Wales were affected with flooding reported from Whitland and Cardigan to Haverfordwest, Tenby, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven.

“We have been flat-out for several hours this evening and we are still flat-out now,” said a spokesman for the Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade last night.

“For the most part we have been able to attend every call-out we have had, and it does seem to be easing off a bit now.

“The problem has been a mixture of things from overflowing drains to the intensity of the rain.”

North Wales also suffered from the severe weather, with flooding across a large area.

Up to 20 properties were affected by flooding at Groeslon, near Caernarfon. The A487 closed between Llanwnda and Groeslon.

Firefighters issued sandbags to residents in areas from Caernarfon to Llanllyfni and Pwllheli, where they were pumping out properties.

Severe flooding also hit most of Cumbria, including Carlisle which was deluged by heavy rains in January this year.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said surface water caused the problems as no rivers burst their banks.

He said: “The flooding has been county-wide and has stretched our resources to the limit but the rains appear to be easing.

“There was flooding in Carlisle but it was mainly surface water and in different areas of the city that were badly hit earlier this year.

“The county council and the various district councils have been quick to act in getting sandbags to affected areas.”

He added that police had earlier advised motorists against non-essential travel but said the situation had since eased considerably.

No evacuations were made apart from a caravan park in Keswick that was regularly affected by heavy rain.

The downpours had raised fears though that homes in the Workington and Whitehaven areas would need to be evacuated.

Coastguard rescue teams in the region were put on alert to assist with the removal of people from an area of coastline stretching from Maryport to St Bees.

The Environment Agency said flood warnings were in place at the River Cocker at Cockermouth, the River Ehen at Egremont, the River Greta at Keswick and at the River Calder in Denton Holme, near Carlisle.

There were similar alerts at Conwy Valley and Llanrwst, in north Wales and the River Western Cleddau at Haverfordwest.

A total of 13 lower status flood warnings were in place, including the River Dart between Dartmeet and Totnes, Devon.