Floods: £120m Extra Cash For Defences

The Government has announced £120m of new funding for flood defences which it says will improve protection for up to 60,000 homes.

It comes amid clean-up operations across the UK in the aftermath of the recent flooding which devastated communities in the South West, Midlands, Wales and North East.

Ministers said £60m will be targeted at areas where improving defences against flooding could unlock investment and growth in the area, and the rest will go to speed up delivery of up to 50 schemes already in the pipeline.

They believe the money, which will be delivered between next year and 2015, will not only boost defences, but also provide £1bn in economic benefits.

Potential projects which could benefit from the funding include Leeds, where the riverside area is regularly threatened by floods and defences could protect 250 businesses, employing more than 100,000 people, and more than 3,100 homes.

Residents of Old Malton begin to deal with the aftermath of the floods

The money is in addition to the £2bn being spent on flooding and coastal erosion this spending period up to 2015 - half of which is for capital projects such as flood defences.

Earler this week, the Prime Minister hinted a cash boost may be on the way. Defending the Government's spending plans on flood defences, David Cameron told the Commons: "We believe by spending the money better and by leveraging from private and other sectors we can increase that level of flood defence spending.

"The spending that is already under way will protect an additional 145,000 homes between now and 2015, but if we can go further, of course we should."

But ministers have faced criticism that they have cut flood defence spending at a time when their own advisers say hundreds of millions of pounds more cash is needed to help the UK cope with greater risk of flooding as the climate changes.

This summer, government climate advisers said flood defence spending is 12% below levels in the last spending review period, with a gap opening up of £860m between money pledged for 2011/15 and what is needed to maintain protection.

James Brindley sweeps muddy sediment out of the Swan Pub in St Asaph

Earlier this week, a report by Wildlife and Countryside Link, which includes 38 charities, warned not enough money was being spent on flood defences and said ministers were failing to prevent unnecessary building in areas at high risk of flooding.

Figures released by the Environment Agency showed some 1,600 properties were flooded during the recent bout of bad weather, while flood defences had protected more than 54,000 homes.

Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said: "This year's floods have shown how short-sighted the Government was to cut investment in flood defences by £95m a year, leaving homes and businesses unprotected.

"Flooding is the biggest threat the UK faces from climate change, yet even after today's mini U-turn the Government will still be spending less on flood defences next year than in 2008.

"Every £1 invested in flood defences saves £8 later and provides much needed construction work.

"What a shame ministers have wasted two years looking for shovel ready infrastructure projects while 294 flood schemes have been postponed or cancelled."

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Freddie Flintoff Wins First Heavyweight Fight

Andrew Flintoff has won his first heavyweight boxing match against Richard Dawson at the Manchester Arena.

Flintoff beat Dawson on points by 39-38 at the end of four two-minute rounds in front of a roaring crowd in his native north west.

The former England and Lancashire cricket star was afforded a hero's welcome by the 5,000-strong crowd.

But after taking the first round he was sent tumbling to the canvas by a punch from his American opponent early in the second.

Flintoff - who lost 20kg while training with former world champion Barry McGuigan - came back into the match as the heavier Dawson showed signs of tiredness.

And the Ashes winner showed impressive composure to take a narrow points win according to referee Phil Edwards' scorecard.

Flintoff recovered after being knocked to the canvas in the second round

The win was the perfect response to critics including promoter Frank Maloney, who said the fight would "shame the fight game".

Flintoff was thrilled to have made a winning return to the limelight.

"You mention the Ashes at international level, but as a personal achievement I think this is the best," he told Box Nation.

"It's something that isn't natural to me. I've had to work hard."

The 34-year-old, who has been training for four and a half months with McGuigan and his son Shane, added: "The feeling of being back in front of a crowd and winning at the end - I can't describe it.

"I wanted to experience it. The people around Manchester, and the county, supported me so well playing cricket. It was a no-brainer to have it up here.

"The crowd made a massive difference. It's been amazing - humbling, really."

Flintoff's progress was charted in a Sky television documentary, where his commitment and dedication to achieving prime physical condition were clearly evident.

But doubts were raised by seasoned observers about the former all-rounder's technical boxing skills.

More than three years on from his last outing as a professional sportsman - helping England regain the Ashes from Australia at The Oval in 2009 while battling a knee injury that would ultimately curtail his career - Flintoff entered the ring wearing his old Lancashire Lightning one-day top.

The crowd favourite had tipped the scales at a trim 15st 6oz - giving Dawson a near two-stone weight advantage.

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Joyce Moulson Plagued By Yobs Before Death

The family of a pensioner who died after stones were hurled at her house have said she was plagued by anti-social behaviour by youths.

Joyce Moulson's family said she was having dinner with one of her grandchildren when a pane of glass was broken in her front door.

While the shattered glass was being cleared, the 84-year-old collapsed on the kitchen floor.

She was pronounced dead soon after she arrived at hospital. A post-mortem established the cause of death as heart-related illness.

A family spokesman said Mrs Moulson led an independent life but was blighted by anti-social behaviour.

"Mum and her neighbours in Fair Road, North Road and Upper George Street have seen intrusions into gardens and broken windows in greenhouses," the family said.

"The many high garden walls in the area appear to be an attraction for youths attempting to participate in free running."

But the family insisted she was not terrorised and was supported by her relatives.

They said: "Mum never lived in fear of anything and her door was always open.

"She saw uninvited youths as an inconvenience and was certainly not terrorised by them. Wibsey is a good area of Bradford, only spoilt by the antics of a few."

Paying tribute to Mrs Moulson, her family added: "Mum, her three children John, Julie and Jason and five grandchildren all live in the area and visited her regularly. She was a much-loved mother and was adored by those who knew her, both family and friends.

"She was perhaps best known locally for her glamorous blonde hair and dress style. She would always dress smartly, even if only going across the road to the Co-op for a pint of milk."

Two boys aged 12 and two aged 13 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. One of the 13-year-olds has been released without charge.

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Supermarkets Back New Price Promotion Rules

What The Supermarkets Say

Updated: 3:19am UK, Friday 30 November 2012

Eight major supermarkets have signed up to a new code on special offers and price promotions, while Asda is considering whether to take part. Here is what some of the retailers had to say...

Lidl: "At Lidl, we consider customer satisfaction and transparency to be at the forefront of our business, and the OFT's set of principles for fair pricing practices is fully in line with our own pricing policies we have set ourselves.

"For example we do not inflate prices of products before a promotion to artificially imply a saving to the customer.

"For this reason the pricing of products in Lidl stores will not be affected as we will continue to apply these principles to our prices in stores."

Tesco: "We work hard to ensure we offer competitive prices and fair, meaningful promotions to our customers.

"We always try to use simple and clear information, so we welcome the OFT's clarity on good practices and support their wish to see a consistent approach to promotions across the sector."

Waitrose: "Waitrose already has clear principles in place to ensure that our pricing is clear and transparent for our customers - so we are supportive of the OFT's code announced today."

Morrisons: "We are happy to sign up to the Office of Fair Trading's principles because they reflect good promotional practice and we are working towards convergence."

Sainsbury's: "These principles are in line with what we already do at Sainsbury's as we have always been committed to fair and transparent pricing. We will continue to ensure that our pricing and promotions are as clear as possible for our customers."

Co-Operative: "We understand how important it is for shoppers to be able to easily understand what the promotional offer is, so they can spot the best deal, and we are committed to providing clear and accurate labelling for our customers so they can make informed purchasing decisions.

"We have been working closely with the Office of Fair Trading, and are fully supportive of the principles set."

Asda: "We're not sure (the OFT's draft code) best helps customers in these challenging times, so we are taking the time to consider its proposals in detail."

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Pensioner Dies After Stones Thrown At House

Four boys have been arrested by detectives investigating the death of a pensioner after youths hurled stones at her house.

Joyce Moulson, 84, collapsed around 10 minutes after her terraced home in Bradford was attacked on Tuesday night.

She was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary but was pronounced dead soon after she arrived.

Four boys - two aged 12 and two aged 13 - have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and are being held in custody.

Local residents described Mrs Moulson as "a lovely old lady who always had time for you".

A friend and close neighbour said: "She was helpful, chatty and always had time for you and a tale to tell."

The woman, who asked not to be named, added: "She was just a lovely old lady. I heard the kids outside last night and basically ignored it because I'm so used to it now."

Nicola Taylor, 29, who lives on the other side of the road, said: "It's devastating. She must've been really, really scared.

"There's always a lot of kids hanging round on the corner. It's quite scary. We were really worried when we heard what had happened."

Another neighbour, Laura Schofield, 26, said: "I heard sirens last night but that's just a normal thing here."

Julie Taylor, who owns a shop near Mrs Moulson's house in Fair Road, said: "Youths are always jumping on the wall outside her house and in the garden. Some of them have no respect.

"I didn't know her personally but used to see her coming and going from her house. I'm shocked."

Police are patrolling the Wibsey area of Bradford following the incident, which happened at around 6pm.

Officers are also studying CCTV footage, a police spokesman said.

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Floods: Family 'Devastated' At OAP's Death

The family of a 91-year-old woman who died in floods that devastated a small city in North Wales have said she was an "active and independent" mother and grandmother.

The body of Margaret Hughes, who had been due to celebrate her birthday today, was discovered in her flooded home in St Asaph.

"Maggie", as she was known, was found by officers carrying out house-to-house checks as hundreds of waterlogged properties were evacuated following the deluges.

Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances and her death was being treated as unexplained.

The city suffered severe flooding after the River Elwy reached a record high of 14ft 3in (4.35 metres) and burst through flood defences.

This was more than 3ft (1m) deeper than its previous record of 11ft 4in (3.47m) in November 2009.

Prime Minister David Cameron described the damage in St Asaph as "biblical scenes".

In a statement released by North Wales Police, Mrs Hughes' relatives said they were "devastated" by the news of her death.

She was described by her family as "independent and strong willed with a real sense of humour and fun".

David Cameron described the damage in St Asaph as "biblical scenes"

The family statement read: "Despite her frailty and age she was still very active and loved nothing more than entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with cups of tea and mince pies with which she would overwhelm them particularly at Christmas."

Speaking from their Denbighshire home, Mrs Hughes's daughter and four grandsons and granddaughter spoke lovingly of their "Nain".

They said she came from that "old stock" of Welsh farmers who carried on regardless of the circumstances, never complained or moaned and always put the wishes of others before her own.

They recalled how Mrs Hughes, while in her 80s, would take long walks collecting firewood and delivering bundles to her grandchildren, often using the bus to take the firewood to their homes.

The statement continues: "Margaret spent most of her early life working on farms, initially in Cerrig, near Corwen and then Plas Coch in St Asaph where she farmed with her husband for 18 years before moving into Tai'r Felin, St Asaph.

"The family are devastated by the news of her unexpected death."

They said she was still "full of life" and looking forward to Christmas.

They also passed on their sincere thanks for all the messages of support and good will but have now asked for privacy at this "very difficult time".

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Cyril Smith: Late MP 'Abused Young Boys'

Police have acknowledged for the first time that the late politician Sir Cyril Smith sexually and physically abused young boys in the 1960s.

Smith, who was elected MP for Rochdale in 1972, was dogged by rumours of abuse throughout his career but charges were never brought.

But both Greater Manchester Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have now said if Smith had been accused today he would be charged and prosecuted.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said: "We are now in a position to say that on three separate occasions, files were passed to first the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and then the CPS containing details of abuse committed by Smith, but on each occasion no prosecution was pursued.

"Having now reviewed those decisions, we believe that if the same evidence was presented to the CPS today there would have been a very realistic prospect that Smith would have been charged with a number of indecent assaults, and that the case would have been brought to trial.

"Clearly that is a bold statement to make but it is absolutely important for those victims who were abused by Smith that we publicly acknowledge the suffering they endured."

An investigation was carried out by Lancashire Police in the late 1960s into Smith's actions at the Cambridge House Hostel, a privately-run care home in Rochdale.

Smith served as Liberal Democrat MP

The investigating officer presented details of allegations made by eight youths to the DPP and concluded Smith had indecently assaulted young boys, but the DPP recommended no prosecution be pursued.

All the boys were either living at Cambridge House or were dependent on Smith for either employment, financial support or guardianship.

The allegations were set out in 80 pages of evidence that was supplied to the then DPP Sir Norman Skelhorn with a covering note dated 11 March 1970.

The only documentation of the decision making is a one page letter to the Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary.

It is dated 19 March, 1970, and reads: "I have considered your file and I observe that eight young men, whose ages range from nineteen to twenty-four years, allege that between 1961 and 1966 Smith subjected them to various forms of indecency and I also observe that Smith denies their allegations.

"Any charges of indecent assault founded on these allegations, as well as being somewhat stale, would be, in my view, completely without corroboration. Further, the characters of some of these young men would be likely to render their evidence suspect."

Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "The decision made in 1970 would not be made by the CPS today.

"Any victims considering coming forward should not be dissuaded by the decisions of the past."

Smith, who died in 2010, served as the Liberal and later Liberal Democrat MP for Rochdale between 1972 and 1992.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "All accusations against Cyril Smith should have been investigated thoroughly with the authorities taking whatever action they thought necessary.

"Any new allegations being made should also be investigated by the police."

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Alcohol: Ministers To Propose Minimum Pricing

By Thomas Moore, Health Correspondent

Cut-price alcohol deals could be banned in a new attempt by the Government to curb binge drinking.

The Home Office is expected to outline plans including a new minimum price for alcohol and an end to bulk-buy discounts.

It will launch a public consultation on the minimum price, thought to range from 40p to 50p per unit of alcohol.

At a unit price of 50p, the cheapest bottle of wine would rise in cost from around £3 to just under £5.

But Emily Robinson of Alcohol Concern said the "pocket-money prices" charged for booze have a long-term cost for the nation's health.

"Young people say it is cheaper to get drunk than go to the cinema," she said.

"So this is a measure that will target that group of people. It won't affect moderate drinkers much at all.

"And this is already costing us money. As taxpayers we are paying for the high costs in terms of policing, admissions to A&E and councils that have to clear up the mess."

Researchers at the University of Sheffield have studied the effect of setting a minimum price.

David Cameron is thought to support a minimum price policy of 40p a unit

Charging at least 50p a unit would reduce the number of crimes by 42,500 in the first year.

After 10 years the policy would have prevented 15,000 deaths and 481,000 hospital admissions.

And it would save £9.7bn in its first decade, the research shows.

But the Wine and Spirit Trade Association said there was no "real world" evidence that minimum pricing would work.

Spokesman Miles Beale said the measure was unfair.

"Minimum pricing is not targeted at all," he said. "The vast majority of us are responsible drinkers but it will apply to us nonetheless.

"If a minimum price of 50p was introduced then 74% of products on supermarket shelves would go up in price."

However, one of the 'big four' supermarkets has come out in support of minimum pricing.

Morrisons Finance Director Richard Pennycook told Jeff Randall Live: "The Government is doing something that everybody who sells alcohol has to comply with.

"That means we're all in the same boat and if they've taken the view that this is an important fiscal measure, one which is related to consumer health, then we are very supportive of it."

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Govt Failing On Its Key Environmental Pledges

The Government is failing on its key environmental targets, including action on flooding, according to a report by leading charities.

Ministers are failing to improve flood defences and prevent unnecessary building in areas at high risk of flooding, it found.

The Nature Check report comes amid a spate of bad weather across the country, with a week of torrential rain resulting in widespread flooding in the South West, the Midlands, Wales and Northern England.

Experts warned not enough money is being spent on flood defences and called for a greater alignment between flood management and other policies such as protecting nature.

They also called for a halt to building on flood plains, unless vital and approved by the Environment Agency.

The traffic light assessment by Wildlife and Countryside Link, which includes 38 groups, also gave the Government a "red" for failing to introduce a carefully managed and science-led badger control policy to tackle TB in cattle and to bring in a ban on wild animals in circuses.

Two badger cull pilots have been delayed until next summer because of costs

The Government was also judged to have failed on its pledge to ensure marine conservation measures were brought in.

The report found the Government was only fully delivering on two international-focused commitments: to oppose the resumption of commercial whaling and pressing for a ban on ivory sales.

The remaining pledges scored an amber grade, including action to protect wildlife and promote green spaces, to reform the water industry to improve competition and conservation and maintain the green belt.

Progress on reviewing the direction of forestry and woodland policy, creating a presumption in favour of sustainable development in planning and reforming the planning system to give more control to communities were commended.

But environmental and wildlife groups warned that without renewed political will and action, the Government was in danger of slipping backwards again.

A sell-off of state-owned woodland was abandoned last year

Only 17% of people polled for the organisations said they thought the Coalition was the "greenest government ever", as pledged by Prime Minister David Cameron when he came to power in 2010.

Dr Elaine King, director of Link, said: "The Government lags behind public opinion on the environment, as the attempt to sell off our forests demonstrated. It needs to catch up.

"A healthy environment - and the public benefits it brings - is a critical part of everyone's quality of life, not an optional add-on.

"The Government's continued use of rhetoric that promotes growth over the environment is a worrying sign that the fragile progress made so far may not last.

"We want to see the Government recognise the value of nature and ensure that all departments recognise that the natural environment underpins sustainable growth."

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Second Man Held After Girl, 11, Raped In Park

Detectives have arrested a second man on suspicion of raping an 11-year-old girl in a north London park.

The man, aged 18, was arrested in Edmonton and remains in custody at a northeast London police station, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 26-year-old Who was arrested earlier on Monday has been bailed pending further inquiries to a date in late December.

The youngster is being treated in hospital after she was grabbed by a man on her way home from school on Friday afternoon.

She was dragged into Jubilee Park, in Enfield, before being raped near a pitch and putt course.

The girl, who had caught a bus from Enfield town to Bury Street, was snatched as she was walking along Galliards Road at around 4.15pm.

She eventually returned home after the attack at 7.45pm.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a horrific and unusual attack of a defenceless school girl making her way home via her usual route, along one of Enfield's busiest shortcuts, at the beginning of Friday afternoon rush hour.

"She says the attack happened for some considerable time - possibly in the region of two to three hours.

"At present an extensive search of the park is underway and local officers are conducting house-to-house enquiries, and we have already been receiving helpful information from members of the public.

"Given the significant and unaccounted amount of time between the incident and the victim's arrival home, we are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her possibly appearing confused or dishevelled following her ordeal. All calls will be treated in the utmost confidence."

Chief Inspector Taylor Wilson said: "Over the course of the weekend police have been working using every resource available to support the victim, identify the suspect and provide a police response to increase confidence and provide reassurance to residents.

"Although this is an isolated and extremely rare incident, we are treating this with the utmost seriousness."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Appeal for witnesses after girl raped in park

Detectives have made a fresh appeal for witnesses after a "brutal" sex attack on an 11-year-old girl.

The youngster is being treated in hospital after being grabbed by a man on her way home from school on Friday afternoon.

She was dragged in to Jubilee Park, in Enfield, north London, before being raped near a pitch and putt course.

The girl, who had caught a bus from Enfield town to Bury Street. was snatched as she was walking along Galliards Road at around 4.15pm.

She eventually returned home after the attack at 7.45pm.

The suspect is described as a black male with afro hair. He was wearing a dark grey top and black baggy jeans.

Detective Inspector Simon Ellershaw, who is leading the investigation, said:  "This was a brutal attack on an 11-year-old girl on her way home from school.

"I am appealing for the public's help in catching the person responsible.

"We are interested in speaking to anyone who was in the Jubilee Park area between 4.15pm and 7.45pm on Friday evening, and may have seen anyone acting suspiciously or anyone following a girl in school uniform."

Witnesses or anyone with information that could help police is asked to call the incident room on 0208 345 4326 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Police Baffled By Scene Of Pensioner's Death

Mystery surrounds the death of an elderly woman found dead in the same house as a man who was taken to hospital with multiple injuries.

Thames Valley Police said it was treating the death of the woman, who was found at the home in Berkeley Road in Newbury, Berkshire, as unexplained.

The woman, who was in her 80s, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.

The man, who is in his 90s, had suffered injuries to his head, ribs and shoulder. He was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he is being treated.

Detective Chief Inspector Gill Wootton said "early indications suggest there were no signs of a forced entry".

He added: "We are still investigating this incident, and are yet to determine the circumstances of the woman's death and the man's injuries."

Officers are maintaining a watch on the property as the investigation continues.

A post-mortem into the woman's death is expected to take place later.

Anyone with information that might help officers with their investigation is asked to contact the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

Those not wanting to speak directly to the police can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

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New Law To Tackle Stalkers Comes Into Effect

By Jane Chilton, Scotland Correspondent

Campaigners are celebrating today after new anti-stalking legislation finally becomes law in England and Wales.

It is already illegal to stalk a person in Scotland, with the Scottish legal system changing in 2010, but it has taken until now for the laws to be introduced in England and Wales.

Campaigners claim the laws are now "harmonious" throughout the UK.

In England and Wales, it is estimated that 120,000 victims, mostly women, are stalked each year but only 53,000 are recorded as crimes by police and only one in 50 of those actually lead to an offender being jailed.

As there have been no anti-stalking laws in England and Wales until today, abusers were often charged with the less serious offence of harassment. This resulted in more lenient sentences of 12 months or less in prison, and many being granted community orders.

Since the law changed in Scotland the effect of tougher anti-stalking legislation is clear. Before the changes only 70 offenders were prosecuted over 10 years, but since 2010 the figure has soared to 443.

Ann Moulds, from Ayr, was stalked for almost three years by a man she thought was her friend.

When he heard about her stalker, he even offered her support and even offered to stay in her home to help protect her and make her feel safe in her home. All the time he was her stalker, bombarding her with sexually explicit texts, messages and phone calls.

Ann Moulds was stalked by 'a friend'

Ann told Sky News: "I ended up where my home became a prison. I was terrified to go out, I kept the curtains closed, I even stopped putting on the television or playing music so I could listen if there were any sounds outside.

"I just couldn't see a future, I couldn't see an end to it all. I lost my friends, I lost lots of weight and I lost my hair."

"So when I discovered that my supportive friend was this crazy man who was stalking me it was total shock, disbelief, absolute betrayal and it took me a long, long time to understand how that kind of mind can work."

Ann's stalker was eventually prosecuted and Ann decided to campaign for a change in the law in Scotland. She founded Action Scotland Against Stalking and was instrumental in bringing in the anti-stalking legislation.

Now she is extending her campaign to the European Parliament, which is now looking at making anti-stalking laws compulsory throughout all European states.

While praising the changes coming in today in England and Wales, Ann said: " It's about harmonising stalking laws so abusers can't commit offences in one country then hide behind a lack of legislation in other countries.

"The campaign has lifted the lid off stalking and that helps the police, judges and the courts in dealing with abusers seriously. One in five men and women will become a victim of stalking in some form or another. We are not looking at a small problem."

Stalking is a growing problem, especially through social networking sites. Cyber stalkers falsely believe they have greater anonymity - but protection rights are tightening up.

Digital stalking expert Jennifer Perry told Sky News: "The more prosecutions we hand out, the more people that are harassing individuals will hopefully think twice about it."

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Wild Weather: Falling Tree Kills One In Devon

A woman has been killed by a falling tree in Exeter, Devon, after authorities warned of "serious threats to life and property" from flooding in southwest England.

The 21-year-old woman was trapped by the fallen tree about 11:50pm on Saturday night near the junction of Western Way and Barnfield Road in Exeter.

Police said the tree fell across a wall and onto the roadway, injuring three people.

Two injured men were treated at the scene, while the woman was taken to hospital, where she later died.

Inspector Andrea Webber of Devon and Cornwall Police told Sky News that the deceased woman had been living in a small tent sheltered against a wall at the roadside.

"It was a very large oak tree that had been there for ... many years. Obviously we've had lots of heavy weather, it's been raining an awful lot, and the tree for whatever reason came down," she said.

"It's taken a wall with it when it came down, and then on top of that the tent was underneath and the tree has fallen on to the tent.

"There are two males involved with minor injuries and obviously a poor lady of 21 who received fatal injuries at the time."

Rising floodwaters in Millbrook, Cornwall (Pic: Matt Skinner)

The Environment Agency had earlier warned of "serious threats to life and property" across regions of southwest England.

Severe flood warnings have been issued for Helston, Polperro, and Perranporth, and for the River Fowey from Trekeivesteps to Lostwithiel.

At Polperro, south Cornwall, the level of the River Pol has been recorded at 0.26 metres. The typical level is between 0.00 metres and 0.25 metres.

Special "rest centres" have been set up in the worst-hit villages, allowing families to shelter overnight as floodwater surges through the rural West Country.

Emergency services and rescue crews have met council bosses in an effort to spread the message about the danger to life and property, following nearly four days of rainfall.

Across the region, roads were closed for safety reasons and others were impassable as rain saturated highways, and debris blocked lanes.

Devon and Cornwall Police have warned people not to go to flood affected areas, adding that the worst of the rain appeared to be moving away from Cornwall towards Devon.

Sergeant Gary Watts tweeted: "Severe means risk to life. Please pay heed!"

Floodwaters surge through Penzance, Cornwall

"Flash flooding can take you by surprise and kill. If you have to be out don't take risks."

Cornwall Council announced on Twitter that the river had burst its banks at Ladock, and warned local residents to take precautions.

Severe warnings are also in place at Bolingey Stream from Bolingey to Perranporth, and at the River Cober, in Helston.

Emergency teams have been working to shore up defences, deploy temporary barriers, monitor river levels, clear blockages from watercourses and pump-out flood water from towns.

The rest of Britain is also bracing itself for more flooding and travel disruption, with forecasters predicting further heavy downpours.

A deep area of low pressure has moved in, bringing more heavy rain to areas already badly hit by Thursday's downpours.

Sky weather producer Joanna Robinson said: "England and Wales could see 15 to 25mm quite widely, with up to 60mm possible in some spots.

"Between 6am and 6pm today 47mm of rain had already fallen at St Mary's (Isles of Scilly), 28mm at Culdrose and Plymouth and 17mm at Exeter and Bournemouth.

Flooding in Newlyn, Cornwall (Pic: Adam Gibbard)

"We can expect 30 to 40mm of rain quite widely across south Wales and the West Country by tomorrow morning, with up to 60mm locally, particularly across Devon and Cornwall. 

"Elsewhere across England and Wales there will be up to 25mm of rain, with lower amounts across Scotland, but local flooding remains a risk there after such a wet week.

"Gusts up to 70mph are expected for coastal areas of south-east England overnight, with inland gusts of 60mph. There is also the potential for some damage, particularly as the ground is saturated.

"It will be very windy across other southern areas, but the south-east is likely to see the strongest winds."

Network Rail said trains were likely to be suspended between Exeter and Bristol until Monday.

The latest downpours came after the majority of the UK was battered by storms on Thursday, leaving hundreds of drivers stranded and thousands of homes without power.

More than 100 people had to be evacuated as winds reached more than 86mph.

An elderly man also died after becoming trapped in his 4x4 in floods in Chew Stoke in Somerset.

Three other people had a lucky escape after their car was swept down a swollen river in Warwickshire.

The vehicle was carried more than 500 metres before a farmer managed to pull it to the water's edge.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Two elderly females and one male were treated for shock and hypothermia by ambulance crews."

In Torquay, Devon, several homes were evacuated after a landslide. Part of a cliff face was hit by a landslip after netting was washed away.

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