The Environment Agency has warned homeowners to remain vigilant amid fears of a repeat of the floods which brought so much chaos across large swathes of England last summer. Heavy rain has already left some parts of the UK on the brink of serious flooding and homeowners and businesses have been warned to prepare for the worst as river levels continue to rise. Thousands of families have taken precautions in safeguarding their homes by barricading them with sandbags and moving furniture and possessions upstairs.
Since last Friday, high winds and persistent heavy rain have seen the closure of many roads, rail services being cancelled and a small number of homes flooded. Train services between Cheltenham and Swindon were cancelled due to floods yesterday. Residents in Gloucestershire who were severely hit by the floods of July 2007 are particularly worried about the River Severn which has had a flood warning for the past few days.
The Environment Agency currently has 77 flood warnings in force across England and Wales. With more rain expected over the next few days it’s likely that river levels could rise further and break their banks, with the risk of inundating hundreds of homes with water. Further updates will appear here.
