West Country (E) flooding News

School children on the Somerset Levels have been given a unique lesson from top environment and weather experts, to learn why the area floods so often.

Pupils from North Curry primary near Taunton were taken on a trek from the source of the River Tone along its journey to the sea. Richard Lawrence joined them halfway, and got a panoramic view of the floods still dominating the landscape.

• Education
• Somerset Levels
• Flooding

The Environment Agency has put out flood alerts for some areas in the region. This is the lowest level of flood warning; it means flooding is possible, and residents should be prepared. The warnings are:

• Bristol Upper River Avon and tributaries including Malmesbury and Chippenham
• South East Somerset: Upper River Yeo, Rivers Cam and Wriggle

Full details can be found on the Environment Agency's flood warnings webpage.

• UK
• Flooding

Some householders in Gloucestershire, near the River Severn, are once again preparing for flood waters to hit their homes.

It comes on the day the government is accused of being too slow in introducing measures to protect homes from flooding. Here's Ken Goodwin.

• UK
• flooding
• Gloucestershire

Residents and businesses in flood-prone parts of Gloucestershire are fearing the worst as river levels continue to rise.

It comes on the day the government is accused of being too slow in bringing in measures to protect homes from flooding.

• UK
• flooding
• Gloucestershire

Tomorrow many parts of our region will be hit by heavy rain. That news will be very unwelcome for people living in and around Tewkesbury.

Low lying land around it is famous for flooding and one pub is bracing itself for being flooded for the seventh time in twelve months.

The Environment Agency says that they can't yet accurately predict how serious the floods will be. The River Severn has been swollen by meltwater from Shropshire and Wales, but more rain is expected over the next couple of days which could make things worse.

At the moment the area around Tewkesbury is on a flood warning.

At present we are not anticipating the flood levels we saw over Christmas, but we have got a bit of rain coming this week so levels could increase.

• UK
• Tewkesbury
• Flooding

Fire crews have rescued two adults and a small child from the roof of a 4x4 trapped in floodwater in Somerset.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue were called to New Road in North Curry last night. They brought in the Specialist Rescue Team from Bridgwater who used a boat to bring the family to dry land.

• UK
• North Curry
• Flooding

The Met Office has said today that the country is getting wetter. Official figures show 2012 was the wettest year in England since records began, and the second wettest in the UK.

That will come as no surprise to many of us here in the South West, particularly those who are still recovering from the latest floods.

• UK
• Flooding
• Somerset

The Met Office says 2012 was the second wettest year across the UK in records dating back more than a century.

• UK
• Flooding
• Somerset

One of Exmoor's most iconic landmarks has been swept away in the floods. The ancient clapper bridge, Tarr Steps, was demolished when fallen trees pushed up against the giant stones. 3/4 of the bridge has gone and will have to be rebuilt.

• UK
• Tarr Steps
• Exmoor