Storms return to batter the UK

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 27 Desember 2013 | 16.50

27 December 2013 Last updated at 04:38 ET

Gales and rain have returned to the UK, causing further disruption to transport and the power network.

There are currently around 14-15,000 homes without power in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Energy Networks Association said.

The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning of gusts up to 80mph in north Wales and northern England.

More than 75 flood warnings have been issued in England, Wales and Scotland, with rain falling on saturated ground.

Rail services have been disrupted, while road closures have been reported around the UK because of uprooted trees.

The Met Office's Emma Sharples says conditions have already cleared eastwards through southern England, with concern focussed on northern parts of Wales, north-west England and north-east England and moving into the Borders of Scotland.

"We will see gusts of around 80 mph particularly in coastal areas, inland probably gusts of 50 to 60 mph, with some quite squally conditions too as showers pass through," she said.

Continue reading the main story'High winds'

Tony Glover from the Energy Networks Association said the experiences of people without power were "horrendous" but the companies were working "incredibly hard, around the clock" to get them reconnected.

"The flooding is a major issue for us and getting a cherry picker out into a a flooded area is one hell of a challenge with the fact that the weather itself continues, there is debris and roads are blocked," he said.

Graphic of Friday's weather forecast

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BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood: ''We are looking at rain and gales for some of us''

"The good news is the 23,000 people who had lost power in Wales and up into the Midlands who were reconnected overnight."

One of the thousands without power is Sharon Beresford from Bournemouth, who has been staying in a hotel with her family after their power line was damaged by a tree on Monday night. "It's been a little bit difficult, not quite what we planned," she said.

"The hardest thing has been no information from the power companies - we keep ringing, just keep getting automated messages, we hold on for 40 to 50 minutes sometimes with no joy.

"I feel very let down that they left at 14:00 GMT on Christmas Eve, having got the cherry picker there to remove the old cable, I don't understand why they didn't just reconnect the new cable - there was nothing to say what they were doing, where they were going and why they weren't finishing it."

Pete Fox from the Environment Agency said river levels remain high through Somerset, Dorset, Sussex, Surrey and Kent, particularly the River Medway and the Kentish Stour around Ashford.

"Those river levels are going to remain high, last night's weather will not have helped that. We remain particularly focussed on the Kent Stour and lower reaches of the Thames," he said.

"Our defences are behaving very well. We've got teams out on the ground assessing the impacts that this weather event has had on them - but we are remaining vigilant, we are clearing grids, we are operating barriers and flood storage areas in order to minimise the risk to flooding in those particularly prone areas."

Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "An enormous thank you to the @EnvAgency and emergency services who are doing an amazing job with the floods and extreme weather."

Meanwhile:

  • East Coast trains have warned that services north of Doncaster will be running at reduced speed because of strong winds, adding an hour to journey times. It is advising people not to travel on Friday if possible
  • In the Republic of Ireland, Dublin Airport had to divert six planes overnight because of "high winds gusting across both runways" which have stopped any flights taking off from the airport
  • On the roads, the exit slip road on the M6 in Preston is closed at junction 31 after a "substantial tree" fell, while the M48 in Monmouthshire is closed both ways between junction one and two
  • Virgin Trains warned of delays and disruption because of strong winds and rain
  • There will be no Gatwick Express service, between London and Gatwick, on Friday because of planned engineering work. Gatwick warns that replacement bus services and diversions could add up to two hours to journey times to the airport
  • Southeastern train services are not expected to operate until about 12:00 GMT on Friday because of strong winds
  • Arriva Trains Wales services between Holyhead and Llandudno Junction are being delayed by up to 20 minutes
  • Network Rail says routes will need to be checked in the morning for disruption caused by fallen trees
  • Gatwick Airport says it has "additional teams of engineers, electrical staff and volunteers at the airport to minimise the risk of disruption from potential further flooding"
  • Cumbria Police say a property has collapsed in Barrow has partially collapsed due to high winds, but all occupants have been evacuated

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