Flood-Hit Parts Of UK Face More Days Of Woe The whole of southern England faces a further flooding threat with more rain, strong winds and large waves on the way. The risk of flooding in already swamped parts of the UK is set to increase over the next few days, although most places are today seeing some respite from continual rain. The Environment Agency (EA) said: "The whole of the south of England is at an increased risk of flooding on Monday and Wednesday, as high tides as and large waves threaten the south coast, while further rain from Tuesday on already saturated ground could lead to river flooding." The EA warned of coastal flooding affecting the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall tomorrow as well as Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It added: "Strong winds and high waves could cause flooding along the whole of the south coast on Tuesday and into Wednesday." There are currently nearly 350 Environment Agency flood alerts, warnings and severe warnings in place across England and Wales, down from 400 earlier today. Surfers ride this morning's rare 'five star' Severn Bore at Newnham Of those, two are severe flood warnings - the highest level of alert meaning there is an imminent danger to life - issued along the tidal Severn, near Gloucester. That figure has dropped from three. By 10am the tidal surge that followed a smaller than expected Severn Bore had breached the river bank at Minsterworth after bore watchers had moved to higher ground following warnings from police and river authorities. The coast of Wales and southwest England, including the coasts and tidal areas of Dorset, Somerset and Bristol were also on high alert. In west Wales, 10 people were rescued last night after the bus they were travelling in was hit by a big wave near Newgale. There were no injuries. Two amphibious vehicles from Sweden will help people on the Somerset Levels Milford Haven Coastguard was contacted just after 7pm with reports the bus was stuck on the seafront and was surrounded by water. The wind at the time was gusting over 50mph. Elsewhere, EA staff have been hard at work near the Somerset Levels village of Burrowbridge, where several road closures remain in place. Road access to the village from the neighbouring Moorlands has been shut off, with several large-scale pumps being used to direct the water out into the bursting River Parrett. Huge sandbags have been placed by the waters edge, along with several signs erected by residents urging the authorities to "dredge the river". With the area is in its fifth week of flooding Gavin Sadler, a member of campaign group Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG), said: "We were in the same boat last year and were told it was a one in a 100-year flood - now it's happened again." Waves swamped this bus in Newgale, west Wales. Pic: William Lawrence David Cameron has admitted it was "not acceptable" for people to have to live in the conditions they have faced for the past month and said dredging would begin "as soon it is safe to do so". But Ian Liddell-Grainger, Conservative MP for Bridgwater in Somerset, hit out at the Environment Agency for what he described as its failure to dredge the river, and called on the Government to hand over money that would bring a reprieve to beleaguered communities. One Monday the area will see the arrival of two Swedish-made all-terrain vehicles able to access areas where the water is too deep for a traditional 4x4 but too shallow for a boat. Both will be able to transport passengers whilst one will assist in carrying supplies, such as fuel, wood and animal feed. Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle told Sky's Murnaghan programme that Owen Paterson has "lost a grip on the crisis". Large waves caused by high winds and spring tides batter Lahinch "The Environment Secretary appears to me to be out of his depth. He's just not taking it seriously," she told Sky News. "This fits in with the fact that he has taken flood protection out of the list of priorities for his department and so he's been focusing on other things." Following a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergencies committee, Mr Paterson said that all requests from local authorities and emergency services for additional support had been met. "Everything possible is being done over the weekend to help those affected by flooding and to prepare for the further bad weather and high tides forecast overnight and into next week," he said. Some areas of Somerset have been under several inches of stagnant water On Saturday in the Republic of Ireland dozens of people were rescued and the army was drafted in to deal with "unprecedented" flooding in Limerick City after the river Shannon burst its banks.

• published: 02 Feb 2014
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