UK: Flood-hit villagers await helicopter rescue

The rescue of people stranded by flooding is continuing this morning in the UK.

Three RAF helicopters have rescued more than 40 people but still have to rescue another dozen, including a man clinging to a lamppost in flood water and people stuck on roofs where they sought safety.

RAF Kinloss, in Scotland, went to help at 5pm yesterday after around 60 residents of Sedgeberrow in Worcestershire became stranded after a day of heavy rain caused the River Isbourne to burst its banks.

Holidaymakers were also airlifted to safety from caravan parks close to the river in Evesham, between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

More than 40 people have already been rescued including a pregnant woman who was in an ambulance which become stranded in floodwater on the M5. Another 10-12 are still waiting for help.

“There appears to be a huge band of rain which has caused extensive flooding in the Gloucestershire area,” said an RAF spokesman.

“The weather forecast said that rain is set to continue.”

He added: “The weather’s not very good. It’s cold and wet out there.

“I wouldn’t say it (the rescue) was dangerous but it’s quite a demanding task.”

The worst affected areas were Gloucester, Cheltenham and the North Cotswolds but there were problems across the country.

Some areas saw twice the average rainfall for the whole of July fall in a matter of hours.

Helen Rossington, of MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said: “Britain is getting all the unsettled weather while the fine, hot stuff is in the Mediterranean.

“Average rainfall for the whole of July is about 35mm (1.4in), but some places have had as much as 85mm (3.5in) in a few hours.”

TV stations were paralysed as satellite reception went down, computers froze in offices and many towns ground to a halt.

Flights were cancelled, rail and Underground services were severely disrupted and roads became impassable as southern and south west England bore the brunt of the wet weather which swept up through France.

During the worst of the weather, 141 flights were cancelled in and out of Heathrow Airport and 25 Tube stations in London were closed due to flooding.

As the rain clouds lifted and floodwater subsided, transport services began to return to normal last night.

Marco Petagna, a forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, said the rain is set to move to the north of England today but will be lighter than the downpours seen in the south yesterday.

“The north of England did not get much yesterday but has had lots of rain so it won’t take much for them to have further problems. The rivers are still quite high and the ground is saturated.”

He said weather in the south will be brighter but there may be some thundery showers.