Flood warnings in place as GWR trains disrupted for second day

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Flooded railway track at Chipping Sodbury
Image caption,

The railway track is flooded for a second day

Rail passengers and drivers are facing disruption for a second day following heavy rain.

Network Rail said flooding in the Chipping Sodbury area meant it was unsafe to run trains between Bristol Parkway and Swindon.

Trains between London and south Wales have been diverted and the line will stay shut on Saturday.

Elsewhere, floodgates on the A361 in Somerset have been shut and further flooding is expected.

Image caption,

The river at Bradford-on-Avon has swelled, flooding nearby properties

The road is closed between Burrowbridge and East Lyng after a "significant increase in floodwaters" at Currymoor - one of the largest flood storage reservoirs on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Flood warnings are in place in 19 locations in Gloucestershire, external where "flooding is expected".

In Wiltshire, there are 18 Environment Agency (EA) flood warnings in place.

Image caption,

Drivers have been warned to take care on the roads

It also emerged that the EA will not be using flood barriers in parts of Bradford-on-Avon, saying the excess water could force the barriers back, trapping pedestrians behind them.

Part of the Tarr Steps has been washed away in Exmoor National Park - the first time since 2016 it has happened.

Somerset County Council said it would visit the site to "form a plan of action".

Image source, Tarr Farm Inn Ltd
Image caption,

High waters washed some of the slabs away on the Tarr Steps

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