Gloucestershire and Wiltshire flooding: Clean up slow as waters high

Residents are still struggling with clean up operations as flood waters remain high in places like Tewkesbury

Communities are rallying together to clean up after flooding but progress is slow as water levels remain high in some areas.

Hundreds of flood warnings are still in place across the west of England after downpours forced residents into rest centres and closed roads and railways.

The Environment Agency warned waters would be slow to recede.

Carol and Keith from Tewkesbury said it was an emotional and difficult time waiting for the water to go away.

The Gloucestershire town has been badly flooded after heavy rain battered the region.

"It's been an absolute nightmare because we were here in 2007 and saw the devastation that brought so we've just been so worried," Carol said.

Carol thought neighbours were dropping round sandbags but they surprised her with a birthday cake

She added: "You're checking out the windows and doors all the time.

"I was on the settee overnight and couldn't sleep, constantly looking out the window trying to monitor everything, but you can't do anything.

"You cant use the toilet. You cant wash, it's awful."

Carol said community spirit was still high though as neighbours surprised her earlier with a birthday cake.

Ivan has been keeping water out of his home for the last two days

Ivan, also in Tewkesbury, said he had been pushing water out of his home since Friday.

"Two or three inches it's gone down overnight," he said.

But he said he felt helpless with the situation, adding: "We've been flooded four times in this house. I can't afford to go anywhere else.

"The worst was when it came all the way up to the radiators."

Mr Gough said passing vehicles are pushing water back into homes

Meanwhile in Longford, Pete Gough said passing vehicles were pushing water back into their homes hampering any advancement.

"A lot of our problem is the big vehicles going through fast and the bow waves causing the flood waters to go into the houses," he said.

However, he said this was not his first experience of flooding.

"One time we had lots of sand here and delivered sand bags with the help of the army - they were really bad that year."

Homes in Longford have been badly affected by flood water

Mr Gough said people were helping each other as the clean-up operation begins.

He said: "The village hall is open today I think they're giving coffees and cakes out."

A forecast of clear weather means residents and councils should soon be able to start work to assess the damage.

The A361 across the Somerset Levels was closed overnight

The flood water levels in Alney Island did not go down overnight

Around 21 Flood warnings are still in place for Gloucestershire, 16 for Somerset, 32 in Wiltshire and one in Bristol.

In Wiltshire, parts of Marlborough around London Road have cleared whilst a new flood warning has been issued for Upper Avon from Amesbury to Salisbury.

Flood water levels are yet to drop in Alney Island which was badly hit.

Tewkesbury Council leader Richard Stanley delivers advice leaflets to help those with flooded homes

Tewkesbury Borough Council leader Richard Stanley delivered leaflets to flooded homes with information on help available.

Some residents in the borough have had to move out from their homes and some expressed frustration that they were not warned sooner of the floods.

Council deputy leader Sarah Hands said there needs to be a "local solution" to the Environment Agency's national flood alerts.

"The heated voices came from frustration which I completely understand," she said.

A swan was spotted swimming in the Tewkesbury flood waters

"The problem was the warnings from the EA were coming too frequently and people did not know which ones were important.

"It's something that needs looking at from the Environment Agency down."

The A361 across the Somerset Levels from East Lyng to Burrowbridge has been closed.

The Haw Bridge Inn in Gloucester has been partly submerged by flood waters

Ian Withers from the Environment Agency said flooding in the Somerset moors should go down after they open the Monks Lee Sluice near Langport.

"The next few days are going to be important days to be vigilant, because, although it stopped raining there's still a huge amount of water to deal with and to move through," he said.

"So actually, where there might be flood alerts and flood warnings is likely to change as that peak of the water in our rivers moves downwards."