UK storms: Fresh flood fears for coming days

BBC News

People are being warned to brace themselves for floods on England's coasts and rivers, with further severe weather forecast.

The Environment Agency said the risk of coastal flooding could last throughout the weekend and into next week.

More than 90 flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, are in place in England and Wales, with 10 in Scotland.

The search for a teenager in Devon who has been missing since Thursday has been called off for a second night.

Harry Martin, 18, from Membland, Newton Ferrers, has not been seen since he left home to take photographs of stormy seas.

'Saturated ground'

The Environment Agency said parts of England's north-east coast could see flooding while parts of the south coast - including Portsmouth and Newhaven - were also at risk over the weekend.

Spokesman Jonathan Day added: "The risk of flooding to the coast will continue over the next few days, especially on the south and west coast and along the Severn estuary."

"In addition, wet conditions have left the ground saturated in many areas, increasing the risk of river and surface water flooding."

In other developments on Saturday:

• The Met Office has issued yellow warnings - meaning "be aware" - for ice in parts of the UK for overnight on Saturday. There are further yellow warnings for rain on Sunday
• A man was rescued by police in Newquay after going into the sea in the early hours of Saturday morning
• Part of a cliff has collapsed into the sea on the East Sussex coast after being undermined by rough seas
• In Scotland, flooding was less severe than expected after warnings of a tidal surge on the east coast
• The Thames Barrier was closed earlier because of "ongoing high flow/high tide conditions"
• The environment secretary thanked soldiers from 36 Engineer Regiment and 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles for helping to fill additional sandbags in Kent

There are currently no severe flood warnings - indicating danger to life - in place across the UK.

However, more than 240 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible, be prepared - are in place in England and Wales, in addition to more than 90 flood warnings.

Prime Minister David Cameron praised the agencies involved in dealing with the storm threat.

He tweeted: "Great work by emergency services & @EnvAgency helping people flooded. 200,000 properties have been protected by flood defences in last 36hrs."

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson also thanked emergency services, adding: "The worst of the bad weather is not yet over so I've chaired an emergency meeting of all departments involved to make sure that preparations to respond are in hand.

"I would urge all those in at risk areas to sign up to the Environment Agency warnings and listen to advice being issued."

Frozen roads

Forecasters have warned of heavy rain in southern England, south-east Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.

There is an increased risk of flooding risk to Weybridge and Guildford on Sunday and into Monday and people living along the non-tidal Thames, including Oxford and Osney, could be at risk from Sunday, the EA said.

BBC weather forecaster Laura Gilchrist said the weather was not out of the ordinary for the time of year, but warned it could cause further disruption in areas still reeling from recent storms.

Weekend temperatures were colder then they had been of late, she added.

Hundreds of homes were flooded on Friday after storms battered the UK's coastline.

Residents in Chiswell and Portland in Dorset were evacuated ahead of high tide on Friday night while about 100 people in Aberystwyth, Dyfed, were advised to move to higher ground.