Devon issued with severe flood warnings

Coastal areas on the north and south Devon coast are affected

Several severe flood warnings, which indicate a possible a danger to life, have been issued for Devon by the Environment Agency for Friday.

Strong winds, large waves and high tides have prompted the warnings for the Taw Torridge estuary, Ilfracombe and the Torridge and Taw rivers.

Coastal areas on the north and south Devon coast are affected.

Severe flood warnings - the highest category of warning - indicate a danger to life and property.

A severe warning has been issued for the South Devon Coast from Start Point to Dawlish Warren.

This is for low lying and exposed communities between Start Point and Dawlish Warren, including Beesands, Torcross, Slapton, Torbay and Dawlish.

Pete Fox, the head of strategy at the Environment Agency, said: "We are expecting flooding along the west and south coasts of England and Wales, due to a combination of strong winds, large waves and high tides, from the early hours of Friday and into the weekend."

A "severe" warning has also been issued by the Environment Agency for the South Devon Coast from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, for low lying and exposed communities between Exmouth and Lyme Regis.

This includes sea front areas of Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth and Seaton.

Tidal locations in the Taw Torridge area that are expected to be affected include Instow, Appledore, Fremington, Muddlebridge, Braunton Marsh, Velator, Wrafton, Chivenor and Yelland.

Parts of Ilfracombe that could be flooded include Cheyne Beach, The Quay, The Strand and Broad Street.

A severe flood warning has also been issued for the Tidal River Torridge from Weare Giffard to Bideford.

This includes Weare Giffard, Bideford East-the-Water, Wooder Wharf and Northam.

A further severe flood warning has been issued for the Tidal River Taw from Bishops Tawton to Barnstaple, including Bishops Tawton and Lake.

Particular locations at risk include low lying parts of Bishops Tawton, such as the A377 (New Road), School Lane, Easter Street and Sanders Lane.

A severe flood warning has also been issued for the Plymouth Barbican including Sutton Harbour.