Standpipes 'could return'

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has raised the possibility of standpipes returning to UK streets if the country is hit by a third dry winter in a row.The warning comes as fears of further flooding remain following heavy rains.

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West Midlands and Cotswolds braced for heavy rainfall and localised flooding

Householder Jeff Clarke looks out from his flooded home in Tewkesbury, Gloucester in July 2007. Credit: John Giles/PA Wire

Much of England and Wales is braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continues to wreak havoc across the country.

Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, which was devastated by flooding in July 2007, was on alert with the Environment Agency setting up an incident room there along with two others in the Midlands and another in the Wessex area.

The agency warned of localised flooding across parts of southern and eastern England, the Midlands and Wales, with a total of 31 flood warnings and 173 flood alerts in place on its website today.

A spokeswoman said:

"We're continuing to closely monitor the forecast and rainfall particularly in areas along the rivers Severn, Teme and Avon, including Worcestershire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire."

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Environment Agency: 'No need for alarm'

Dave Throup from the Environment Agency says there's no immediate cause for alarm, but river levels in the Midlands are continuing to rise.

River levels are high at Powick in Worcestershire
River levels are high at Powick in Worcestershire Credit: ITV Central

Speaking from a bridge alongside the River Teme at Powick near Worcester, he says the Agency will continue to monitor levels over the coming days as more water moves down from Wales and with more rain forecast.

The heavy downpours are not having a significant effect on the drought situation. The Agency says we need a further six months of this type of weather to return to normal conditions.

For more on this story visit the ITV Central website.

Kite surfer enjoys strong winds in Tyne and Wear

A kite surfer enjoys the strong winds on Tynemouth Beach, Tyne and Wear.
A kite surfer enjoys the strong winds on Tynemouth Beach, Tyne and Wear Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

South West England and Wales will be battered by gusts of up to 60mph today while the rest of the country is also expected to experience strong winds and further downpours.

In Tyne and Wear, a kite surfer enjoys the strong winds on Tynemouth Beach.

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MeteoGroup on weather prospects for Sunday

Tom Tobler, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said:

"Gusts of 50 to 60mph are sweeping across South West England, central England and Wales, which will see the worst of the windy weather.

"The wind will then spread north-westwards throughout the day with other areas seeing gusts of up to 40mph.

"There is potential for it to cause some damage.

"The South East will experience heavy rain this morning, but it will then ease off, with the heaviest rain in the South West, central England and Wales. It will then spread northwards."

Drenched UK faces more downpours

The River Ouse in York has flooded parts of the city
The River Ouse in York has flooded parts of the city Credit: John Giles/PA Wire

South West England and Wales will be battered by gusts of up to 60mph today while the rest of the country is also expected to experience strong winds and further downpours.

Forecasters said trees could be brought down and already waterlogged areas could be flooded, with up to 40mm of rain predicted to fall in places.

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