Evacuations in Gloucester as flood-waters threaten homes

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said they rescued a number of people from the village of Tirley

Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts are in place for the West after heavy downpours.

It comes as some people in Gloucestershire were taken to rest centres because of the flooding risk to their homes.

Gloucester City Council advised residents of Alney Island, an island on the River Severn in Gloucester, to go to GL1 Leisure Centre.

The council said flood defences were "close to overtopping."

Water levels were expected to peak on Friday. A number of people live on the island which has a mobile and static caravan park.

Meanwhile, a rest centre was also set up in Tewkesbury at the nearby village of Walton Cardiff.

A number of flood alerts have been issued for the town along stretches of the River Avon and the River Severn.

Several roads were also closed, Gloucestershire County Council said and it told residents to ring 999 and ask for the fire service if they need to be evacuated.

Roads around the Tewkesbury area have been affected due to rising river levels

Thirty-two flood warnings were issued for Gloucestershire and the wider area by the Environment Agency, with a further 26 lower level flood alerts.

There was also a warning for the Wye, Thames and the Bristol, Tetbury and Sherston Avon in the South Cotswolds.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service warned drivers against ignoring closures as flood-water made many roads impassable.

The service said in one case it had to rescue a driver in Tewkesbury on Thursday night:

Elsewhere, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said they had four call outs to rescue people in Martock, Shepton and Wells in Somerset.

Areas in Somerset which have been affected by flooding so far include:

• Evercreech

• Croscombe

• Shepton Mallet

• Marston Magna

• Queen Camel

• North of Yeovil

• Standerwick, Rode

• A361 at Greinton

• Wrantage

In Wiltshire, there were 25 flood warnings.

Flood-waters were threatening to reach homes in Bradford-on-Avon and Wiltshire Police advised residents to only travel if they needed to.

Meanwhile disruption continued on the roads and railway services.

South Western Railway said a landslip at Crewkerne had blocked all lines and rail services running through the station might be cancelled or delayed, with disruption expected until the end of Friday.

Great Western Railway (GWR) said several routes have been closed due to flooding and urged customers not to travel.

In Gloucestershire, flood-water blocked all services between the towns of Gloucester and Lydney.

The line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway was affected, the operator said and trains were diverted via Bath or Temple Meads, with concerns about other areas too.

Network Rail said key sites, including Westbury in Wiltshire and Taunton in Somerset, were at risk of flooding.

The latest road closures for the West include:

• A417, Maisemore

• A38, Longford, Gloucester

• A38, Norton, between Tewkesbury and Gloucester

• B4213, Haw Bridge

• Ham Road, Haw Bridge

• Town Street, Haw Bridge

• Wainlode Lane, Haw Bridge

• Chaceley's Rock Street, Haw Bridge

• Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury

• Gloucester Road, Tewksbury

• Bredon Road, Tewkesbury

• Walton Cardiff Lane, Tewkesbury

• Howells Road, Tewkesbury

• Swilgate Road, Tewkesbury

• Northway Lane, Tewkesbury

• Gander Lane, Tewkesbury

• St Mary's Road, Tewkesbury

• Sandhurst Lane, Gloucester

• B4058, Near Nailsworth, Pyke Quarry

• B4234 Ross Road, Lower Lydbrook by the Wye, Forest of Dean

• Bristol Road, Cirencester

• A417, Driffield Northbound exit, Cirencester

• A419, Cirencester

• B3106, Staverton, Wiltshire

• B3105, Staverton, Wiltshire

• Cuts Road, East Lyng, Somerset

• Cheats Road, Ruishton, Somerset

• New Road, North Curry, Somerset