Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Six people rescued from flood water

Devon floods: Fire crews rescue people from water

Feniton flooding, 1 January 2014 Flooding is affecting the village of Feniton, which was badly hit in 2010 and again in 2012

Six people, including a baby, have been rescued from flood water in three separate incidents in Devon.

Just before 10:00 GMT fire crews rescued two "distressed" people from a car which was stuck in rising flood water at Fenny Bridges, near Honiton.

In the second incident, a special rescue team from Exeter helped rescue two adults and a baby from a car at Ford Bridge, Monkton.

A woman was also rescued from her car near Avonwick in South Brent.

Car in flood water, Devon, 1 Jan 2014 Motorists have been warned not to attempt to drive into flood water

Flooding has also been reported in the village of Feniton, which was badly hit in 2010 and again in 2012.

"Feniton is starting to flood and it's looking quite serious," Claire Wright told BBC News.

"The rain is coming down heavily and it has been for many hours and fields are already saturated with all the rain we've had over the past few days."

Ms Wright, an East Devon District councillor, said drains were "spewing sewage" and villagers were "on tenterhooks".

Heavy rain and severe gales are forecast until midnight.

The Met Office has issued a yellow "be prepared" warning for the South West.

About 40mm (2in) of rain is expected in some areas, with severe south or south-westerly gales gusting up to 60mph.

The Met Office said with ground already saturated, the public should be aware of the risk of further localised flooding.

Devon and Cornwall Police has urged drivers to take care and be prepared for "unexpected puddles or flood water around the next corner".

The force has also said members of the public should stay away from swollen rivers.

"With the previous amounts of heavy rain we have had, rivers are running very high at the moment and there is an increasing risk that their banks could burst causing further flooding," a police spokesman said.

The Environment Agency currently has 14 flood warnings (flooding expected) and 38 flood alerts (flooding possible) for the South West, with that number expected to increase.

Sporting fixtures, including racing at Exeter and Exeter City's football match against Wycombe Wanderers, have been cancelled.

The weather has also led to the cancellation of a number of annual New Year's Day swims in Devon and Cornwall.


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