Devon and Cornwall travellers urged to avoid trains

Plastic dams protected signalling at Cowley Bridge junction in Devon

People have been urged to avoid travelling in Devon and Cornwall amid widespread flooding.

Line are blocked between Topsham and Exmouth, Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple and between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids.

In Cornwall, lines are blocked between Liskeard and Looe.

First Great Western said on its website that bus services were taking the place of trains, but flooding on roads meant even those services had been disrupted.

A spokeswoman tweeted: "Due to disruption across the whole network it is advised to not travel today unless absolutely necessary."

The line between Exeter and Barnstaple is not expected to open until after 1 January.

Flood warnings

Trains between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids were suspended following flooding at Cowley Bridge Junction.

Plastic dams protected signalling at Cowley Bridge where Network Rail workers have been replacing ballast which was washed away from under the tracks.

Network Rail said the junction would reopen by midday on Friday allowing trains to travel between Tiverton Parkway Station and Exeter St Davids.

In Cornwall, Network Rail said services between Liskeard and Looe, which closed on 20 December, could restart within the next few days.

Services between Par and Newquay were operating a reduced timetable.

The Met Office is forecasting more rain will sweep up from the South West on strong winds, affecting the whole of the UK by dawn on Friday.

The Environment Agency still has 15 flood warnings and 48 flood alerts in force across the South West.

The agency said it expected to issue more alerts on Friday and over the weekend.

Areas most at risk include the River Cober in Helston, Cornwall and the River Exe and River Culm at Stoke Canon in Devon.