bringing you news on the flooding that has hit large parts of england and wales. hundreds of people have been forced to leave their home, weather warnings in force. major incident was declared in nottinghamshire along the banks of the river trent. the environment agency said some with the highest level of flood seen in years. bringing more delays for travellers. take a look at this map from the environment agency. it shows all the places that have alerts. you can see there are many, many of them. most of them are in southern, eastern and central england. we will be live in some of the worst hit areas shortly but first mairead smyth has the latest. yet more heavy rain on already sodden ground. in nottinghamshire, a major incident has been declared as the river trent continued

to rise, as high as it's been in more than 20 years. the peak expected today. hundreds of people have been evacuated from their flooded homes. and a few miles south in loughborough, this flat ruined by floodwater. darren�*s father had to be rescued in the early hours of yesterday morning. there was three feet of water whereas today i'm looking at it and there's no water. the river severn also expected to peak today. belongings piled high in this cottage in worcester to escape the worst of the damage. in the village of longford near gloucester, catherine is helping to look after her mum's house which was surrounded by water, again from the river severn. it's 2007 all over again and it's, yeah, itjust means, mum, if it does go through it would be nine months out again. and this is what the river avon did to alice and mark's garden in fordingbridge. the flood defence swamped.

the garden would get flooded, it did last year. so we had to start bringing all of the equipment and tools that we had in the garden and all of the toys for the children and start bringing them up closer to the house, which is on higher ground. the water breached a couple of weeks ago and now it's the riverbank has gone as well. anyone travelling by train today is advised to check their service before they set off after major disruption to multiple routes, including great western railway and south western railway. this was the scene at hinton admiral station last night. the rail line between liskeard and looe looking more like a river. somewhere between newton abbot and totnes we ground to a halt and sat there for a couple of hours while they assessed whether they could go through the floodwater or not. there were 259 active flood warnings last night, meaning flooding is expected across much of england, and two in wales, and more than 300 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

the environment agency is advising people in areas covered by flood warnings to turn off gas, water and electricity supplies, move belongings upstairs and seek safety for family, pets and cars. and after storm henk comes a cold weather alert for all of england from tomorrow until tuesday. mairead smyth, bbc news. with war on what's going on in nottinghamshire, here is our east midlands reporter. well, the river trent has been the big concern with the water is rising at the moment. it hasn't been a record—breaking year although it has been closed. the record was set 23 years ago when it was 5.5 metres. but not far from here it is reach 5.35 metres. let's take a look out over the river trent

today. look how swollen that river is. it wouldn't normally be this high, there would be steps down to the normal level of the river. 0ver the normal level of the river. over the normal level of the river. over the other side of the river, you mightjust be to make out some benches which are still half submerged. nottinghamshire county council have declared this a major incident, meaning they are urging all communities living along the river trent to be extra vigilant and keep those flood defences in place. more than 100 homes across nottinghamshire have been flooded in this recent incident. the east midlands itself has been badly affected. nottingham, derbyshire and leicestershire. businesses have had to close and animals have been rescued. it has been a tricky few days for people living in the east midlands with the aftermath of storm hank. nottinghamshire county council are hoping that the river levels here have now peaked and will start to recede. neil clark from nottinghamshire county council told us how the community there has been

preparing for the flooding. we have been doing quite a lot of work over many years on flood resilience, offering things like floodgates to people that could be under threat. and then, this particular serious incident which came from all that heavy rainfall then we have been working with district councils and emergency services and the environment agency to evacuate people from their homes where necessary. probably about 100 orso where necessary. probably about 100 or so homes that have been evacuated. thankfully the river, our information is that it has peaked and we believe it is now starting to drop, it's probably dropped two or three inches since its peak last night. so hopefully things are beginning to improve. but we have still got lots and lots of road

closures which we have put in place over the last couple of days. and regrettably, people are still ignoring those road closures and they are there for their safety so it's important that we can still keep people safe. yes it's important that we can still keep people safe.— it's important that we can still keep people safe. yes and there's also a very — keep people safe. yes and there's also a very practical— keep people safe. yes and there's also a very practical reason - keep people safe. yes and there's also a very practical reason that l keep people safe. yes and there's also a very practical reason that if| also a very practical reason that if people drive into floods knowingly, my understanding is that they won't necessarily be insured if their car ceases to function.— necessarily be insured if their car ceases to function. yes, i'm not an insurance — ceases to function. yes, i'm not an insurance expert _ ceases to function. yes, i'm not an insurance expert but _ ceases to function. yes, i'm not an insurance expert but i'm _ ceases to function. yes, i'm not an insurance expert but i'm quite - ceases to function. yes, i'm not an insurance expert but i'm quite sure that's probably the case. also, don't forget that somebody has got to go and rescue them and that puts the rescue services unnecessarily at risk when they have to risk their own safety to get somebody out of trouble when they have driven into that flood water when really they shouldn't. because, who knows? there could be dislodged manhole covers, there could be all sorts of

obstructions and things under the water that you cannot see so it is incredibly dangerous to go into floodwater.— incredibly dangerous to go into floodwater. . ., , ., floodwater. other than that, you findin: floodwater. other than that, you finding that _ floodwater. other than that, you finding that people _ floodwater. other than that, you finding that people are _ floodwater. other than that, you finding that people are coming i floodwater. other than that, you - finding that people are coming more accustomed to this type of situation and know what to do and how to respond? . and know what to do and how to resond? ~ , , , respond? , well, i suppose yes, --eole respond? , well, i suppose yes, peeple are _ respond? , well, i suppose yes, people are becoming _ respond? , well, i suppose yes, people are becoming more - respond? , well, i suppose yes, i people are becoming more resilient respond? , well, i suppose yes, - people are becoming more resilient a lot of our communities where there have been flooding in the past. we're always working hard to try and keep the drain systems clear and working with residents to get floodgates etc in place. and also a lot of people have got sandbags and we were suggesting that they get their sandbags out early as a precaution rather than waiting until the water was, you know, lapping at their doors. maybe people are becoming more resilient but it is frustrating that the levels of

rainfall have just been absolutely horrendous the last few weeks and months. and the water, the ground is just so saturated there is nowhere for the water to be soaked up. it can only flood out and of course, that's the reason why rivers have floodplains so that the water can stretch out in times of flood. yes. and we had. _ stretch out in times of flood. yes. and we had. as — stretch out in times of flood. yes. and we had, as you _ stretch out in times of flood. yes. and we had, as you said, - stretch out in times of flood. yes. and we had, as you said, the - stretch out in times of flood. yes. and we had, as you said, the grounds were already saturated because we had storms before christmas as well which, of course, led to the situation that the ground isn't able to take more water and absorb it. yep, absolutely. it is up slightly saturated so water can only run off and that is why water is, farmland and that is why water is, farmland and down into villages and into communities as well as then the river levels rising particularly

river trent was the most effective this time in nottinghamshire. and it's affected those communities that are right by the rivers and there are right by the rivers and there are several communities that have been surrounded and cut off. and we have just got to make sure that we can be as resilient as we possibly can. �* , ., . , can be as resilient as we possibly can. �* .,, . ., can. are you able to predict how cuickl can. are you able to predict how quickly the _ can. are you able to predict how quickly the waters _ can. are you able to predict how quickly the waters will _ can. are you able to predict how quickly the waters will subside? | quickly the waters will subside? that's a very difficult question. i'm not really qualified to answer that. but the environment agency are telling us that it has peaked. how quickly it recedes, i don't know. hopefully it will start to recede more... we think it has dropped two to three inches since its peak during the night. so maybe if that rate continues may be by the end of

today, if that rate multiplies then perhaps it will have dropped a foot or so. and keep dropping and the water levels recede. find or so. and keep dropping and the water levels recede.— or so. and keep dropping and the water levels recede. and “ust very briefl , water levels recede. and “ust very briefly. when i water levels recede. and “ust very briefly, when you t water levels recede. and just very briefly, when you mention - water levels recede. and just very briefly, when you mention drainsl briefly, when you mention drains there, obviously keeping drains clear so that the water can flow away is very important. 0ne clear so that the water can flow away is very important. one of the other issues, no doubt, that you are potentially having is a problem with sewage systems because the two are combined. . sewage systems because the two are combined. , ., . ., , combined. yes, there are certainly lots of areas _ combined. yes, there are certainly lots of areas where _ combined. yes, there are certainly lots of areas where there - combined. yes, there are certainly lots of areas where there are - lots of areas where there are combined sewers and that does cause problems. and that's where we have been very frustrated when people have ignored road closed signs because they have been a couple of villages where there has been sewage mixed in with the floodwater in the road and driving through itjust spreads it all around towards houses. so itjust gets frustrating

and incredibly dangerous. we need to do all we can to try and limit that threat. . .. do all we can to try and limit that threat. . ~ ., threat. neil clark there from nottinghamshire _ threat. neil clark there from nottinghamshire county - threat. neil clark there from - nottinghamshire county council. let's take you to some live shots to gloucestershire. this is an area that has been badly affected. we understand that the water levels are currently steady. however tewkesbury in gloucestershire, there was a point when all the roads into the town were in fact blocked. this is a problem for people getting around notjust problem for people getting around not just that but also train problem for people getting around notjust that but also train links and particularly in the west country, has been very badly affected. meanwhile my colleague spoke to mary from hertfordshire. she is a flood resilient campaigner whose home has been flooded twice in the past. she had this advice for people who have been affected by the floods. ma;

people who have been affected by the floods. y . . people who have been affected by the floods. g . . ., , ., �* ., floods. my advice would be don't go back to your — floods. my advice would be don't go back to your home _ floods. my advice would be don't go back to your home until— floods. my advice would be don't go back to your home until it _ floods. my advice would be don't go back to your home until it is - floods. my advice would be don't go back to your home until it is safe . back to your home until it is safe to do so. make sure your gas and electricity is r. ring your insurance provider to make sure they know. because there are so many floods about, they might not be ode to get to you quickly so it's important that you do the following things, where wellington boots, have plastic gloves on before you go into the house because everything will be contaminated. where a head torch if you need to and take photographs of absolutely everything, even the contents of your fridge and freezer. put a mark on the wall as to how high the water has got, that will enable your insurance to know how much plaster has to be marked. this is very important, if they can't come for a few days, water will be trapped under your carpets and will slow the process and it will make it worse. so with those plastic gloves,

i'd be careful with a pair of scissors and cut the carpet up, lift it up, don't throw it away but get it up, don't throw it away but get it outside because that will aid the drying. then open your windows, ventilation is really important and if you have got an open fire, light the fire. ., . , the fire. sound advice there. ly have now _ the fire. sound advice there. ly have now to — the fire. sound advice there. ly have now to graham _ the fire. sound advice there. ly have now to graham who - the fire. sound advice there. ly have now to graham who is - the fire. sound advice there. ly have now to graham who is the j the fire. sound advice there. ly - have now to graham who is the chief executive of the british brokers association. welcome. what challenges are you immediately facing? presumably simply the amount of calls that you are getting? yes. of calls that you are getting? yes, there are a _ of calls that you are getting? yes, there are a lot _ of calls that you are getting? yes, there are a lot of— of calls that you are getting? yes, there are a lot of inquiries, - of calls that you are getting? ya: there are a lot of inquiries, of course. but we are geared up and absolutely committed to helping people as quickly as we can through the different stages of the floods and we appreciate what a difficult time it is with over 300 flood warnings and thousands of properties flooded already. there's things that people can do to try and mitigate

and make the best at this difficult time. i would say, before the flood warnings come in the water come, get yourself together with emergency flood kit, mobile phone, get yours prescriptions medications together, a torch and bottle of water and most important your insurance policy. have that ready. move your pets to save ground in a safe place, friends or relatives. move your valuables, your sentimental is upstairs as much as you can to keep that safe. some properties that have been if flood in the past might have some resilience measures that they can fit. for example, door shields resilience measures that they can fit. for example, doorshields or air brick covers. these can be installed that might minimise the flood to the property in the first instance. the positive news is that the majority of insurance policies are going to cover these difficult claims, the damage to buildings,

replacement of contents and they would also look to cover alternative accommodations if you can't go back to the property. you have to bear in mind that it has been contaminated with dirty water. your insurance policies would normally cover you to go to alternative accommodation, perhaps a property not so far away or a hotel where you can be safe. so we are obviously looking at getting as many alternative accommodation properties available as possible as we can. . ., ., �* properties available as possible as we can. , ., ., �* , , we can. understood. but this is becoming _ we can. understood. but this is becoming a _ we can. understood. but this is becoming a more _ we can. understood. but this is becoming a more frequent - we can. understood. but this is - becoming a more frequent problem, isn't it? we becoming a more frequent problem, isn't it? ~ . . becoming a more frequent problem, isn't it? ~ . , . ., , isn't it? we are seeing increased floodin: isn't it? we are seeing increased flooding over _ isn't it? we are seeing increased flooding over the _ isn't it? we are seeing increased flooding over the years. - isn't it? we are seeing increased flooding over the years. i - isn't it? we are seeing increased flooding over the years. i think. isn't it? we are seeing increased flooding over the years. i think if we look back to something like 2007, historically where there were 165,000 claims affecting 120,000 homes, even 18,000 motor vehicles. that cost around £3 billion. we are used to having floods in the uk. many of our neighbour towns and cities have rivers running through

them and we are an island as well. the insurance industry is geared up to help people as quickly as possible as we can. and we can also introduce something between the insurance company and the government which was introduced in 2016 and that helps cap the insurance elements of floods in your premium so that the flood part of your premium should be limited depending on what your council tax band is. if you live in council tax band c, then your premium flood should only be about £200 for the building and contents combined. we are doing our best to help people. if people are having difficulty accessing flood premiums, we are working with people and we have in launcher insurance directory and you can access their online or call on 03709 we are very happy to try and help with

insurance if they are having difficulties. you would you advise people going forward think about mitigation very seriously in their homes? mitigation and flood resilience measures are really, really important. you have to remember that if you look at the floods a few years ago. many of those properties were affected for a very long time and people couldn't get back into them because they had to be cleaned, disinfected, item stripped out, that takes a long time. what we saw with some of the premises it was working with hard floors, moving the power sockets up the walls, having things like air brick covers and door shields and that made a really big difference because when the waters flooded again a year or so later, the properties were able to get repaired so much quicker. people could get back into their homes, back into their businesses and the

inconvenience and the damage and cost was so much less. so we really encourage resilience measures by household owners and the flood initiative of which many insurers are involved with and do have something called build back better where scientists can help with funding resilience measures. we strongly recommend that. we also do believe that it's a time for the government to increase their investment in flood defences because with the high levels of inflation that we have seen, the money that was promised isn't going to cover the number of properties what it was originally intended to. so i think there is action from the government to improve defences and improve resilience and help households and businesses better protected for the future. , ., ., ., , ., ., future. understood. people are going to be concerned _ future. understood. people are going to be concerned about _ future. understood. people are going to be concerned about their— to be concerned about their premiums. can you offer any and assurance on that part, are people going to have to get to the stage where they have separate insurance for flood

where they have separate insurance forflood risk? i where they have separate insurance for flood risk?— for flood risk? i think i flood insurance — for flood risk? i think i flood insurance has _ for flood risk? i think i flood insurance has been - for flood risk? i think i flood insurance has been very - for flood risk? i think i flood - insurance has been very successful. we run closely with british insurers, we've got about 22 specialist firms who have identified that they can cover flooding facility or from another independent facility or from another independent facility or from another independent facility or number of facilities. the cover is available and it is, the premiums are capped and the excesses also capped at £250. we will do our very best as an industry to keep the cost down and to keep insurance competitive. we would always say, if you are having challenges are trying to get insurance for floods or you are concerned about premiums then please get in touch and be very happy to try and put you in touch with some of the specialist that you have schemes that can help. graham, thank ou ve schemes that can help. graham, thank you very much — schemes that can help. graham, thank you very much indeed. _ schemes that can help. graham, thank you very much indeed. right, - schemes that can help. graham, thank you very much indeed. right, let's - you very much indeed. right, let's get an update now on the underlying by the situation live now to chris in the bbc weather centre. what is

alarming isjust how in the bbc weather centre. what is alarming is just how widespread this is apart from anything else, isn't it. yes, people live in mentioning the 2007 floods when we had the tewkesbury floods and the floods affecting sheffield and hull. the situation is nasty at the moment, a flooded river here possibly the river trent running through the nottinghamshire area. we do have other concerns. i think one of the big issues is that we have had three weather systems in quick succession. 0ne came through during the night of the first, another one storm henk that came through on the 2nd of january, something of a lull we had some showers that follow that on the third but then of course, over the last 2a hours we have seen another area of low pressure moving in across the atlantic and this has brought another dollop of heavy rain on that already saturated ground and really it's that succession of weather systems that have caused the severe flooding that we are seeing at the moment. now, in terms of rainfall, this month is only five

days old of course but across parts of southern and eastern england there are some places that have seen nearly one month's worth of rain, in suffolkjust nearly one month's worth of rain, in suffolk just one nearly one month's worth of rain, in suffolkjust one month's worth of rain has fallen already in the last five days. that's really what has caused the problem, these huge rainfall problems falling over the space ofjust rainfall problems falling over the space of just five rainfall problems falling over the space ofjust five days. in terms of flood warnings at the moment, we have seen just some slight using over the chest hour or so. they carry currently 279 flood warnings in place and the majority of these are across parts of the midlands, east anglia and across southern england. the flooding has been causing problems, we are expecting problems on train services for the rest of today and the major roads have also been affected the m3 currently has some lame shut due to the flooding that we have seen there. chris, you have said that things are starting to ease, for the time of year does one normally

expect flooding in january? are just depends expect flooding injanuary? arejust depends on expect flooding in january? are just depends on what has come before and it's really the succession of rapid—fire weather systems that have brought these rainfall totals and that has been causing the big problems. looking ahead to the forecast... for those areas that are flooding, you don't want me to be telling you that there's more rain on the way but there's more rain on the way but there is. the good news is that in terms of showers that we are going to see the rain and there aren't going to be any huge rainfall totals with these. even if you see the rain coming down over areas that are pretty much flooded where you are, it's not going to cause any more significant problems. the rain is not going to accumulate to that extent. although you might see some rain, it's not going to cause extra problems today. better news into the weekend and next week, we lose the low pressure and we are looking at a prolonged spell of dry weather as this area of high pressure moves on. it's going to be cold and it has been over recent times, some frost and fog to content with. this is

going to bring a very long run of dry days. that means the flood warnings that are causing problems will have time to clear away. thank you very much indeed. that's chris there for us. we will take you to the live pictures of the types of situations that chris has been describing them. this is tewkesbury in gloucestershire. as you can see, the situation is quite extreme. there are moments when tewkesbury itself was cut off in terms of the main roads going in and out. however, that is no longer the case. as you can see, around those buildings that's a pretty serious situation for many homeowners and home occupiers. withjust situation for many homeowners and home occupiers. with just been hearing about the insurance situation and getting some advice on what to do in such circumstances. and we were hearing how most of the time, the majority of these cases home contents insurance will cover

this eventuality. but it's important to stay vigilant. here is our news correspondent now. he is in tewkesbury for us. they talk here all the time about the floods in 2007, they were absolutely devastating. tewkesbury abbey stood at this dry point surrounded by flood water and as you can see a lot of the floodplains are doing their job here this morning. the road that connects with the m5, the main motorway going north south over there is blocked, there are a couple of other roads that are blocked as well. but people are able to get in and out of tewkesbury at the moment. if you home isjust and out of tewkesbury at the moment. if you home is just down and out of tewkesbury at the moment. if you home isjust down below and out of tewkesbury at the moment. if you home is just down below were evacuated overnight and people were broughtjust to a pub to keep them warm and safe for the night. not as bad as it could have been, i suppose. as i say, 2007 was that incredible year. this is the biggest or highest water levels and worst

flooding since 2007. thankfully, fingers crossed, not as bad as that. vicar of the abbey has invited us right to the top of the tower here. the town is used to this, we can hear the bell is going, the town is used to this, how are people getting on? we used to this, how are people getting on? ~ . used to this, how are people getting on? . . . , . ., , on? we are a resilient community. peole on? we are a resilient community. people have _ on? we are a resilient community. people have been _ on? we are a resilient community. people have been pulling - on? we are a resilient community. | people have been pulling together. it's been great to see our councillors up sandbags, our local search and rescue boats are going out. some people have got water coming up to the second floor, some people have got it coming through the doors. we've been here before. we are a resilient community and we'll pull ourselves together. next week, tewkesbury will be back and open for business. find week, tewkesbury will be back and open for business.— week, tewkesbury will be back and open for business. and its dry hair, the abbey once _ open for business. and its dry hair, the abbey once again _ open for business. and its dry hair, the abbey once again remains - open for business. and its dry hair, the abbey once again remains dry. | the abbey once again remains dry. where a lot of the town doesn't. somewhere over hundreds and hundreds of years, people knew what they were doing. of years, people knew what they were doinu . , ~ ., of years, people knew what they were doinu. , ~ ., , ., of years, people knew what they were doinu. , ~ ., , doing. they did. what you can see here is the — doing. they did. what you can see here is the floodplains _ doing. they did. what you can see here is the floodplains doing - here is the floodplains doing what they know how to do. tewkesbury had

been flooded since roman times. what's happening now with climate change, these things are becoming more severe and more frequent. that needs to be a wake—up call notjust for tewkesbury but for all of us. the abbey feels like a bit of an arc in the middle of floodplain like no's rk. it somewhere where we can hold the community in prayer and do some sheltering of this fragile creation that god has given us. if we do more of that we might see less of this. . .. we do more of that we might see less of this. . ~' , ., , we do more of that we might see less of this. . ,. ,, , . ., of this. thank you very much for talkin: of this. thank you very much for talking to _ of this. thank you very much for talking to us _ of this. thank you very much for talking to us this _ of this. thank you very much for talking to us this morning. - of this. thank you very much for | talking to us this morning. that's absolutely right, climate change of course accelerating these events. those people just in a row down below us who have left their homes overnight where the water has ingress. people are used to these things there are flood gates as far as the eye can see, sandbags absolutely everywhere. if you just look down below is here for example, the cricket club is underwater, the rugby club a bit further over isn't but this large car park here is all underwater as well. a couple of cards i have seen submerged. i was talking to someone this morning who

said his car was out in the water level rose so rapidly that he hardly had time to nip out and make sure he had time to nip out and make sure he had moved his car to get it to relative safety. i spoke to somebody else who had been coming down every day over the last couple days to try and rescue his car that had broken downjust and rescue his car that had broken down just before christmas and has now been consumed by the flood waters. anything flood waters touch it taints. if peoples homes have been badly flooded then they face months and months of disruption, they will be out of their homes until they can get them dried out, redecorated and back in. so far so good, as you heard, the the vicar said this is a very resilient community, they know what they're doing and they do know how to deal with situations like this. john maguire therefore is in tewkesbury. we know that travel, particularly roads and rail have been affected. let's get more on disruption to the trains from our newsroom. what is happening in the

south—west? yes, so, the big problems are on great western railway. they operate services from london down to the west country so they go through reading, and then on to bristol. and you go to plymouth, they also go into south wales into swansea and cardiff. now gwr are warning of major disruption today. the reason for that as they have a line closed in three places due to flooding. so swindon and bristol parkway, that section is closed, reading to taunton is closed and towards 0xford taunton is closed and towards oxford is closed. normally they would run to services an hour from the west country into london paddington, that is down to one service an hour. now they are trying to get some bus replacement services on some of those lines but they are saying that they won't be able to replace all of

they won't be able to replace all of the trains. so what passengers can expect is cancellations and delays on that particular line. just looking at acts to delete my exodus and david's where that line goes, the 1044 to cardiff which was delayed by one hour and 27 minutes, the service to plymouth delayed by 31 minutes and the service to london waterloo cancelled, the reason is that the alternative line that goes down the other side out of london waterloo into exodus and david's, there is flooding on that line. —— exeter sent david's. so there is currently no service running from exeter saint davids to yeovil. also the line between gloucester and lydney is also shut at the moment. that is affecting cross—country and transport for whale services. so really, that whole area from the south—west down and out of london

into the south—west is going to be subject to delays and cancellations today. there is one small bit of good news and that is that the branch line between liskeard and cornwall. it is open now. they are saying that this disruption will last all of the day. if you are expecting to travel on gwr or south—west railways it will be best to check before you travel. the line into the south is worst affected. g ra nt to affected. grant to skegness line there is flooding there between sleaford and heslington. they have had to put reduced speed limit there. there are

now going to be