Friday, February 14, 2014

Storm batters Devon and Cornwall

Rain and winds batter Devon and Cornwall

Porthleven. Pic: Andrew Wallis High seas have been causing concerns in Porthleven
Waves on Penzance Promenade. Pic: Lee James Palmer Waves were seen blowing over the Penzance Promenade
Snow on Dartmoor. Pic: Devon Highways Snow fell on Dartmoor and Exmoor

Heavy rain and strong winds have been battering Devon and Cornwall again and are expected to cause further flooding across parts of south-west England.

More than 110 households in Ashburton, south Devon, have lost electricity supplies, Western Power Distribution said.

Snow fell on Dartmoor and Exmoor during the morning.

Severe flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency for the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall.

A flood warning is also in place Cornwall's north coast.

Strong winds are forecast from 18:00 GMT into the early hours of Saturday and gusts of up to 80mph are expected in some areas on Friday evening.

Kingsand The storm-damaged clock tower in Kingsand has once again been battered by large waves
Flooded garden in Ashburton. Pic: John Chrimes People in Ashburton said rising river levels has resulted in flooded gardens
Snow on Dartmoor Driving conditions on Dartmoor were reported as "dreadful"

The BBC's Sarah Ransome in Plymouth said earlier there were large waves crashing into the city's shoreline.

She said: "It's another day, another storm for the South West as it prepares itself for another pounding."

Elsewhere in the area, people in the nearby village of Colebrook reported backyards and gardens flooding and manholes covers being lifted by the force of water.

Colebrook flooded six times in 2012 and some residents were forced from their homes for up to six months.

A £1.5m scheme by South West Water, the Environment Agency and Plymouth City Council which was due to be built later this month was undergoing the final stages of its design process, South West Water said.

Several properties - including the Colebrook Inn - were flooded, but plans put in place by the community last year came into action.

The BBC's Lynne French, whose home was flooded in 2012, said: "Flood barriers fitted appear to have worked where they've been put in place and chain gangs of residents carried out bailing, helping each other out."

Water levels later subsided, she added.

Cars on flooded road in Clyst St George Flooded roads have been reported across Devon and Cornwall
Overflowing drains in Ugborough Residents had to clear out overflowing drains in Ugborough

BBC weather forecaster Carol Kirkwood tweeted at 08:39 GMT: "Recent gust of 61mph at Camborne, Cornwall, accompanied by driving rain. The wind will continue to strengthen to storm force later today."

On a snowy Dartmoor, BBC Radio Devon's Michael Chequer, reporting from between Moretonhampstead and Postbridge, said: "The driving conditions are dreadful and the cold is extraordinary."

In Cornwall, the county's fire service tweeted that three properties were flooded in the hamlet of Lower Treluswell, near Penryn, and it was pumping them out

In other developments:

  • Surface water flooding and fallen trees were reported on roads across Devon and Cornwall by BBC South West Travel on Friday morning
  • The Highways Agency urged road users to take care when out, to plan their journeys and delay their travel if the weather becomes severe
  • Flooding was reported on roads and in gardens in Ashburton, Devon, after river levels rose
  • Trains services between Exeter St Davids and London Waterloo were disrupted by the weather
  • National Rail Enquiries said flooding at Axminster closed lines between Crewkerne and Exeter St Davids
  • Bus firm Stagecoach said it was accepting rail tickets for bus journeys between Exeter and Newton Abbot until the south-west rail line re-opens
  • Hazardous driving conditions were reported due to snow on the A39 in both directions near Bideford in Devon and also around Princetown on Dartmoor
  • Torquay seafront has been closed, Torbay Council tweeted
  • Penzance's Western Promenade has been closed due to the weather. Police have advised pedestrians to avoid the area
  • Friday's 22:00 Brittany Ferries sailing from Plymouth to Roscoff has been cancelled
  • The Tamar Bridge, which connects Devon and Cornwall, has had one of its three lanes shut and is closed to high-sided vehicles, bikes and caravans
  • The Cremyll Ferry from Plymouth to Mount Edgcumbe, the St Mawes passenger ferry and the Teignmouth to Saldon ferry are not running
  • All Isles of Scilly Skybus flights to and from Newquay Airport are cancelled
  • Cornwall's multi-agency Silver Control centre reopens to coordinate a countywide response to weather incidents
  • Free sandbags will be issued to households in Cornwall at risk of flooding from today

Strong winds have also been reported on the Isles of Scilly.

Are you in the affected areas? Have you been affected by the flooding? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

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