Rising water levels cause nursing home evacuation

Residents at a nursing home in Oxfordshire have been forced to leave after concerns about rising water levels in a nearby river.

The 36 residents of The Old Prebendal Nursing Home in Shipton Under Wychwood have been moved as a precaution.

An additional 14 people in nearby sheltered accommodation have also been taken to alternative residences.

Oxfordshire County Council said it had received reports of more than 40 trees which fell in the high winds.

Sandbags have been manoeuvred into position in an effort to protect the village from flooding

The heavy rain and severe winds also caused power cuts in Deddington and Islip and brought a power cable down on the A4095 near the Rock of Gibraltar pub in Bletchingdon.

Shipton Under Wychwood resident, Chris Rose whose house is 100 yards away from the river, said he had made preparations ahead of the forecast rain.

He said: "We get everything upstairs quickly."

Mr Rose said he also remembered the last major flooding in the village in July 2007.

"We had just over a metre in the house, I could swim from room to room," he added.

The Environment Agency issued a flood warning for the River Cherwell from Lower Heyford to Cherwell Bridge.

Levels were expected to rise, causing flooding to properties close to the river.