this is bbc news. i'm rebecca jones. the headlines at 6pm. troops are deployed to west yorkshire as heavy rain and strong winds batter parts of the uk. forecasters predict a months worth of rain in some places. dozens of flood warnings are in place across britain. hundreds of flights are cancelled, train services are disrupted, and sporting fixtures called off. the first death from coronavirus in europe is recorded in france. people returning to beijing risk punishment if they don't go into quarantine for m days. phone, broadband, and pay—tv service providers are now obliged to tell customers when their contracts are coming to an end, under new rules. the duchess of cambridge says her "amazing granny"

inspires her parenting, in a new podcast. the search for alien life — scientists develop new state—of—the—art techniques to detect the possibility of extraterrestrial existence. good evening and welcome to bbc news. the army have been called in to help shore up flood defences across west yorkshire, with large parts of the uk expected to be hit by severe rain and wind from storm dennis. the regular troops and reservists have been deployed to ilkley and calderdale. the highways agency has warned of hazardous driving conditions and north wales police has urged people not to go out unless it's absolutely necessary.

matches in the scottish premiership at rangers and motherwell have been called off. there are more than 250 flood warnings and alerts in place across the uk and wind speeds are forecast to reach 70 mph along coastlines. there is also travis disruption —— travel disruption with british airways and easyjet have cancelled flights across the country for safety reasons with easyjet have confirmed they have cancelled 234 flights in and out of the uk. helena wilkinson sent this report from gatwick airport. amongst the first evidence of damage by storm dennis was here in south wales. this is a village of comeback were people's homes are already under serious threat. in calderdale and ilkley in west yorkshire, the army has arrived. areas that were hit badly

by last weekend's storm were 11's rain fell injust 12 hours. they fear the same may happen again. the army have been busy putting up barriers this afternoon to strengthen the flood defences. the first thing they will provide is reassurance, reassurance to people that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe during storm dennis. the second thing is that we are actually, with their engineering experience, basically checking the river walls and reinforcing them whether our weaknesses. —— where there are weaknesses. at leatherhead in surrey, they are also erecting barriers, some of the worst affected parts of britain could see up to 140 mm of rainfall and gusts of up to 80 mph. we are expecting significant impacts across the country. and we fear that the impacts are going to be at least as bad as last weekend and in some cases they will be worse. for many, the half—term getaway has ended up with a lesson in travel disruption. easyjet have cancelled around 350

flights over the weekend, almost 100 from here at gatwick. at heathrow, 60 flights were grounded, most of them british airways. by late this afternoon, nearly 30 flood warnings were in place across england. with eight weather warnings covering most of the uk, meaning flooding could cause a danger to life. back in west yorkshire, the army and the environment agency continue to do what they can to protect communities and reassure residents. helena wilkinson, bbc news. phil bodmer is in hebden bridge in west yorkshire which took a heavy hit during storm ciara last week. in the last hour of the weather has deteriorated as storm dennis begins to unleash its might, and this is hebden water, which runs into the river calder about 200 metres from here. the water level is running very fast and it is beginning to come up.

this is one of a number of rivers in the calder valley which are under threat of overtopping. last week if i was stood here the water level would be up to my neck and beyond and we are expecting it to rise tonight. there are a number of amber warnings in place in the calder valley and all of yorkshire along with scotland, south wales and parts of the south—west of the country as well. earlier today we saw around 100 soldiers from catterick garrison being deployed to help shore up defences along with reservists supporting them. people here in the calder valley can only wait, watch and hope tonight for a repeat that does not happen from what happened last weekend. that was phil bodmer. i'm joined by the director of nations and regions for national rail, robert nisbet. thanks so much for coming in for somehow must disruption is there on the rail network? considerable across the country because this sort just like storm khaira last week is targeting most of the country. so we have extreme weather action teams

dotted around the country. we put pumps where we may think funding will be an issue near railway lines but you are going to see speed restrictions across the weekend nearly across the country, timetables have changed. a simple piece of advice is this. if you are planning on taking a train this evening or sunday evening to monday morning, check before you travel. go to the national rail inquiry‘s website. there is a red banner on top assist dennis, click on that and we will give you the information. what is the biggest concern, is it wind blowing tree sound, heavy rain, what challenges are you facing? all of those. last weekend we were more worried about the wind. the wind is less strong this weekend but it is still a problem and we have seen a tree fall down block a line in cornwall near sand place and there has had to be an evacuation from the train there. but what we are morphs worried about now is the residual water because a lot of the land around the railway tracks is saturated, wore water on top of that

could be leading to more flooding. we have pumps near where we think the fighting is that the greatest danger. your advice is keep checking the website for updates but what if you live near a railway line? what we are asking people to do if they live near a railway track and they have garden furniture out that they could be blown around just to put it somewhere safe. if you have a trampoline, i know there has been a lot of talk of trappings but it did cause an issue as we can, if you have a worse trampling, tether it down. if you have a small trampoline, flip it over and put something heavy on top of that facet thatis something heavy on top of that facet that is the advice we are giving because if they get on the railway line any form of debris they can cause a problem. the issue is one of safety. budo want to put our people or customers at risk either. and we wa nt to or customers at risk either. and we want to ensure there is certainty and what we are saying at the moment is that look at the website before hand to be certain that if you make that trip to the railway station you are going to get on a train because

it may not be the case. —— we want to put our people or customers... can you get your money back? to put our people or customers... can you get your money back7m depends on your operator but most of them if you have a ticket before sunday —— for sunday, it will be accepted on monday. the problem we faced after ciara as well as that a lot of the trains will be in the wrong place so the morning commute on monday could also be an issue. if you are travelling to work on normal commute even if the storms have died down, check before you travel because there may be disruption —— disruption. robert, thanks so much for that. let's return to our lead story now, and the terrible weather battering many parts of the country. earlier, ispokejim dale senior risk meteorologist at british weather services. he told me how he has been helping companies and organisations in the uk prepare for storm dennis. we first noted storm dennis back on monday in actual fact so we got rid of one storm and we were already plotting the next storm. and in between now and then, then and now, we have been updating the various places that commercially

we are attached to so sporting arenas particularly and logistics firms, etc so that they can then themselves prepare themselves, whether it be safety officers, whether it be the clubs themselves and how they actually prepare for a match so it is all a risk, it is all in the same boat if you like but it is different aspects. they make the final decisions, we just advise them as to what is coming. have a chat with them, communication is very important, making sure that everybody does the right thing at the right time. understood but i wonder, how do you assess the risk? very difficult. it is a bit like saying how long is a piece of string when it is like this because it is ever—changing. we can only do our best. obviously we are looking at the charts all the time, we are listening, we are observing, we are seeing where the heavier rain is and the stronger winds so all of this is plotted on and then we are trying to, i guess, predict like a weather forecaster does and put that in place for the location in hand

and advise at that point and those places will have critical points by which they will make their decisions so whether they decide to postpone, whether they decide to play a game if you like in a certain tactical way or whether it is a logistics firm say driving whether or not they actually put people out on that day or not. as i say, it is very important to say that they make the decision, not ourselves, we are advisers. no, i understand you. can you just also put the storm into context for us? how does it compare to other storms that you have advised on? yes, well, no storm is ever the same and at this moment in time i would suggest to you that at this moment, for most parts of the uk, this might be classed as what you might call a standard winter type storm if you like, a lot of wind, a lot of rain, perhaps not too unusual but i think the worst is yet to come, certainly in terms of the wind, and the rain will only build. you have already talked about the river levels and things like that, that is only going to go in one direction so i think this is...

it is a storm, it is a winter storm. we have it as an amber storm, i think the met office have got it exactly the same so it is up there and there is a danger to life. don't put yourself in the wrong position is basically what we're saying so watch and wait and make sure you are doing the right thing at the right time. that was jim dale. breaking news for you now. in the past few minutes it is confirmed that the tp presenter caroline flack has died at the age of a0. details asi has died at the age of a0. details as i say just has died at the age of a0. details as i sayjust emerging. carolina flack had recently returned to the uk after time flack had recently returned to the uk aftertime in flack had recently returned to the uk after time in los angeles in the aftermath of her arrest for assaulting her boyfriend. the incident had forced her to step down as the host of both island, the itv programme which of course had

propelled her into the top echelons of british celebrity. she had been due to stand trial next month after pleading not guilty to assault by beaching following an early—morning altercation with her boyfriend. —— as the host of love island. she was as the host of love island. she was a huge star caroline flack, she her television career back in 2001. there you can see pictures of her dancing with her partner when she won the bbc one show strictly come dancing. she first appeared as i say backin dancing. she first appeared as i say back in 2001 in a television movie called is hairy 0n back in 2001 in a television movie called is hairy on the boat? . she had other acting jobs in television and in theatre. but it was on strictly come dancing and then later as that presenter of love island

which really had brought her most fame. she stepped down from presenting love island after being arrested at her home in north london following as i said and alleged altercation with her boyfriend. she had been charged with assault by beating but had pleaded not guilty and her boyfriend had remained loyal by her side. she had been banned from contacting him during a court appearance in december but yesterday, her boyfriend had made a public declaration of his love for her. on social media. yesterday of course was valentines day. so that news just coming into us course was valentines day. so that newsjust coming into us in course was valentines day. so that news just coming into us in the past few minutes that it has been confirmed that the tp presenter caroline flack has died. 0ur

correspondent helena wilkinson is with me for somehow when i appreciate we have onlyjust heard this news but are you able to give us this news but are you able to give us any information? we don't know at this stage the circumstances around this stage the circumstances around this but this is very shocking news of course. caroline flack was a0 yea rs of course. caroline flack was a0 years old. we know she was a very popular television presenter as you mentioned there, she was the host of the itv programme love island. we know that she had to step down from that or she decided to step down from that because of that court case she was do to face trial in i think about three weeks' time or so. in terms of the circumstances around how she died, that we do not know at this stage. she was arrested late last year in connection with an allegation of assault against her boyfriend louis burton. she did

appear in court at highbury magistrates' court just appear in court at highbury magistrates' courtjust before christmas on the 23rd of december. i was at that hearing, it was a hearing where she pleaded not guilty to that one charge of assault. her boyfriend told the court through her lawyer that actually he didn't want the prosecution's case to go ahead, that he said he was not a victim and that he said he was not a victim and that he said he was not a victim and that he did not want those charges, that he did not want those charges, that one charge, but against his girlfriend. however the prosecution continued with the case and as i say she was do to stand trial on the 3rd of march for a day and a half. this is very shocking news and it will be to so many of her fans. there has been a huge amount of reaction on social media as you would expect. herfamily have social media as you would expect. her family have put out a statement saying that we can confirm that "our caroline passed away today on the 15th of february. close but they also say that, "we asked the press both respect the privacy of the

family at this difficult time." just going back to the court case when she appeared at highbury master it's court on the 23rd of december, she found it a difficult experience when she tried to get into the court building facade —— highbury magistrates' court. she was surrounded by a huge number of paparazzi. 0nce surrounded by a huge number of paparazzi. once she got in, she burst into tears. she was visibly very upset from that. we saw pictures of her after that court case, she went over to los angeles, and we understand then she returned at some point obviously in preparation of course for that court appearance on the 3rd of march which was do to last a day and a half. but again we don't yet know the circumstances as to what happened but caroline flack at the age of a0 of very popular presenter television presenter, she fronted that itv to love island programme, she was meant to host the winter series which was

actually going on at the moment. but she thought it was best given that she thought it was best given that she was facing this trial next month that she should step down from that but clearly, that at the time was very clear that that was very difficult for her to do. let'sjust remind you of that news that in the past few minutes it has been confirmed that the television presenter caroline flack has died. ina presenter caroline flack has died. in a statement, her statement has said that, "we can confirm that our caroline passed away today the 15th of february. we would ask that the press respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask that they make no attempt to co nta ct would ask that they make no attempt to contact us and or photograph us. was what as helena was saying, there has already been a reaction on social media. the bbc breakfast presenter dan walker is among the many people pain tribute to caroline flack following this news of her deficit —— people paying tribute. he

has tweeted "awful news about caroline flack. we really need to be better acting care of each other. so sad." and ammon homes a fellow presenter on itv of course has also tweeted , " presenter on itv of course has also tweeted," caroline five, dear god, shocked beyond belief. " helena wilkinson is with us was up as you have been keen to stress, we don't know any details that is surrounding her death so it is important that we do not speculate about that. hugely popular tv presenter, we are also seeing pictures of her when she won the bbc one programme strictly come dancing and of course really found enormous fame and popularity as the presenter of love island. but she has had this court case hanging over her and has had this court case hanging over herandi has had this court case hanging over her and i know you have had first—hand experience of that. just tell us a little bit more about that

when you saw her appear in court. just to give you the background if you have not followed the case for some she had to appear at highbury magistrates' court late last year in december on december the 23rd. a couple of days before christmas. she was charged with one charge of assaulting her boyfriend who is called the lewis burton and that was allegedly took place at her flat in north london. she appeared in court for that hearing. during that hearing as i said when she went into the court building itself, she was surrounded by paparazzi and photographers and cameras in the huge interest in this case was very clear given as you say just how popular a presenter she was. as she got into that building, she went to the security section where you have to go and have your back search and as she got through there, she didn't burst into tears.

she was visibly very distressed at that point. when she appeared in the courtroom at times, she was looking down, she was crying at times when she was hearing the evidence laid out against her. she pleaded not guilty to that one assault charge in the public gallery, her boyfriend was there supporting her. the boyfriend who she was allegedly assaulted, he was supporting her. he had said through her lawyer that he did not want to the prosecution to pursue the case. he said he was not a victim at all. and as part of her bail conditions, she was not about to co nta ct bail conditions, she was not about to contact her boyfriend which was clearly very difficult for them both. i am going to quote the press association here which is reporting that her lawyer for caroline flack‘s family has said that caroline flack took her own life and was found in her home in east london flack today.

that is the press association quoting a lawyer from that is the press association quoting a lawyerfrom caroline flack‘s family. we know that her family have said in a statement that they can confirm that she passed away today. —— in her east london flat. they have requested the privacy of the family in what must bea privacy of the family in what must be a very difficult time. i think on the telephone now i can speak to the tv critic scott brian. scott, this news, a terrible shock to everybody. what is your reaction?” news, a terrible shock to everybody. what is your reaction? i mean, it is utterly devastating. i think it has stopped everyone in their tracks really. i think it is... it is a really. i think it is... it is a real story that shocked people because everyone has known caroline flack for a very long time. i mean, she had been very closely associated with love island which she has

presented not the series with the previous series and she has been a mainstay on british television for well mainstay on british television for we ll over mainstay on british television for well over a decade. she mainstay on british television for well overa decade. she has mainstay on british television for well over a decade. she has been highly adored by fans by her approachability, by the fact that she is incredibly bubbly, very warm and invites humanity. and to have this story come out of the blue has beena this story come out of the blue has been a real shocking and real sadness. i don't think i have seen a reaction to a passing of a celebrity on social media that is really affected a wide variety of people. i think it is also when there is such important news like this that is evermore creed that those who are sort of saddened by the news should contact mental health related charities or samaritans if they feel that this news is affecting them. —— that this news is affecting them. —— that it that this news is affecting them. —— thatitis that this news is affecting them. —— that it is evermore clear. you orja

her pretty buddy. to present a programme like love island is an easy but you may look easy, dingy? 0ne easy but you may look easy, dingy? one of the hardest things in television i think is trying to be essentially a friend on tv. television i think is trying to be essentially a friend on tvi television i think is trying to be essentially a friend on tv. i think when you are a presenter, it seems like an easy job when you are a presenter, it seems like an easyjob but when you think you were on stage or working at the camera, it is a hard thing to go and do. particular when she has been so closely attached to some of the biggest tv shows over the last decade. and i think it is the fact that you are essentially under the scope in the press immediately because of your platform in your profile. but also i think in a time of social media, you also have got a very strong relationship with your audience. and i think that it is incredibly hard to put up with what she has in terms of the range of what she has been able to present

and so consistently. and i think it isa and so consistently. and i think it is a real case that tv has such a power with people where it can make people feel like they are your friend on the screen to presenting every single time and when shocking news like this happens, it really has an effects many many people if you follow that person for many years stopped what it is interesting you should say that scott as we have been talking about this, an outpouring really on social media. biasing the former love island co ntesta nt biasing the former love island contestant amber davis who actually won the series in 2017 tweeting "my heart is actually broken." she was clearly as popular with the co ntesta nt clearly as popular with the contestant says she was with the viewers at home, was edgy? popular with contestants. i think seeing the real range of people from every sort of industry and background, celebrity or not, just talking about how shocking and sad they are. you

go on social media and it is so consistent with the variety of people. it has made people think a lot about yet again sort of it makes up lot about yet again sort of it makes up questions about the media pot or responsibility in terms of where we go from here. it makes them think about in terms of the scrutiny that the people have as being a celebrity, raises the question such as that and have been talking a lot about the welfare of people who are on tv programmes and i think this brings it really back into the spotlight. so, it is going to be at times obviously for her family to have the privacy that they would really wa nt have the privacy that they would really want to have at this time and it is also an opportunity for us to really think about the big questions about what we see ourselves going forward in our society. just for people who are justjoining us, i wa nt to people who are justjoining us, i want to remind you of the news that we've heard within the last few moments that the television presenter caroline flack has died.

she was just a0 years old. her family have released a statement saying, "we can't confirm that our caroline passed away today. we would ask that the press would respect the privacy of the family at this difficult time and we would ask they make no attempt to contact us or photograph us. was what and the press association is reporting that the television presenter took her own life at her flat in east london. scott bryan the television critic is with us. had you met her, scott?” know of a lot of people who have and i think many people have pointed out that she was incredibly sweet and genuine and really kind in person. and that she was essentially incredibly approachable. when you we re incredibly approachable. when you were on reality tv, you do meet a lot of people in the mind of your work. and i think it is a very intimate media where you do and are

able to have a close relationship with a lot of the contestants are a lot of the people behind the camera as much as in front of the camera. and i think it is the real white shock of the surprise of a lot of people in terms of what has been reported this evening in terms of the fact that we do not know what is going on with some of the generally... and i think it is important about seeking out help with people with mental health following this news this evening and for what they have seen. we know of course that she had been presenting love island, she stepped down from presenting that show after she was alleged to have assaulted her boyfriend louis burton at her then flat which was in north london in december. she had entered a not guilty plea to the assault charge at highbury court, a magistrates' court, and she was released on bail

with conditions that it stopped or having any contact with lewis birch and ahead of a trial next month. —— lewis burton. and scott bryan the television critic who is with us, very well—known from presenting love island but of course also she did when is strictly come dancing didn't she would will have also brought her toa she would will have also brought her to a whole new audience? absolutely. she had been so successful on time extra click come dancing but also she was presenting on the x factor, itv two for many years and was on cbbc as a kids presenter right from comic relief, the fame academy in 2008. and i think it is the fact that she has been so widely seen by many people. love island is not a

show that isjust many people. love island is not a show that is just typical for itv two viewers, young viewers have had an appeal that has been incredibly wide with a large section of the public as much as strictly does with a family audience and she has been widely known by a lot of people and this is what it is a shock because everyone knows who caroline flack is. i think you make a very good point there about how she appealed across generations, didn't she was next day with us, scott. i am looking at some of the tributes, the many tributes that are being paid to her on social media, another former love island contestant wes nelson has written a very long message on instagram next to a picture of himself with caroline flack and he has written "i can't believe what i'm reading. caroline flack was an absolute diamond. my heart is genuinely broken. one of the warmest, funniest people i've ever met. i have nothing but great

memories. it wasjust met. i have nothing but great memories. it was just weeks since we we re memories. it was just weeks since we were chatting away." and one other radio and tv presenter edith bowman, she has tweeted "i can't quite believe what has happened. caroline, you didn't deserve this. such a sad and tragic news. well to all her family. the media and social media have so much to answer for. rip lovely flack. because what this is touching on what you are saying scott bryan that there's been so much there on the mental health and well—being of contestants in reality tv shows. we can possibly speculate of course about what has been going on in caroline flack fonseca mind and what led her to do what has happened. —— caroline flack‘s mind. wife in the spotlight for anyone is not always easy, is that? —— life in the spotlight. no it isn't. we have

seen cases of