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UK storms: New flood fears for rivers and coasts

People are being warned to brace themselves for floods on England's coasts and rivers.

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

There are currently almost 100 flood warnings - indicating flooding is expected - in England and Wales, with about 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 later while parts of the south coast - including Portsmouth and Newhaven - could see further flooding over the next two days.

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."


The swollen River Severn could be seen from the flood defences in Minsterworth, near Gloucester

Flood water from the river reached the town of Upton-upon-Severn on Saturday

The Thames Barrier was closed for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday
In other developments on Saturday:

A man was rescued by police in Newquay after going into the sea in the early hours of Saturday morning

The Met Office issued a yellow warning of snow for Scotland and parts of northern

England on Saturday evening
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", according to the Environment Agency, but was due to reopen at 17:00 GMT

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

However, more than 250 flood alerts - meaning flooding is possible, be prepared - are in place in England and Wales, in addition to about 100 flood warnings.

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.

There are also a number of flood warnings in place in Scotland, but no severe 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

Meanwhile, the Met Office has issued yellow warnings, meaning be aware, for heavy rain and ice on Sunday, with warnings of ice issued for north Wales, most of Scotland, and north-west England, as well as warnings of travel disruption as stretches of road freeze overnight on Saturday.

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

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.

Some 90 properties are estimated to have flooded since Friday, bringing the total to around 220.

James Allbut took this photograph of a van after it had been tossed around by waves in La Rocque, Jersey

On Friday a storm caused major disruption in Aberystwyth, in Wales
Source:BBC

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