the amount of daughter put out by the fire crews, so the water is pumped out from premises flooded, going into the brick from where it came. a bbc undercover investigation exposes a fertility scam fuelling a black market trade in babies in nigeria. a far—right, pro—russia candidate takes a surprise lead in the first round of romania's presidential election. and bestselling novelist barbara taylor bradford, who wrote a woman of substance, has died at the age of 91. hello, i'm martine croxall. let's us add to the death of barbara taylor bradford. she

was one of britain's most successful author, prolific writer, her debut novel sold more than 30 million copies and went to be a huge tv hit. she wrote a total of a0 novels during her career, all of which were bestsellers around the world. she once said she wrote about a mostly ordinary women who go on to achieve the extraordinary, which you could argue was a bit like her. barbara taylor bradford, who was died at the age of 91, there will be many tributes paid to her, and we will bring you some of them when we hear about them. more than 1a0 flood warnings are in place across the uk after storm bert battered britain this weekend. wales�* first minister, eluned morgan, has described the disruption caused as "absolutely devastating". hundreds of homes remain underwater and many roads have been turned into rivers as a result of the torrential downpours — with some areas seeing more than a month's rain in the past a8 hours.

vincent mcaviney reports. pontypridd was only under a yellow weather warning but, over the weekend, it was one of the parts of the uk where storm burt dumped more than 80% of november's expected where storm bert dumped more than 80% of november's expected rainfall in less than a8 hours. passing the record set by storm dennis in 2020, in some areas, it's been more than enough for the river taff to burst its banks again — flooding up to 300 homes and commercial properties across this county. a major incident was declared in parts of south wales with standing water, fallen trees and landslides closing a number of roads. council leaders are alarmed they weren't given stronger warnings about bert. i am really surprised we did not have an amber last night. and when you consider the amount of rain that came today and the flooding we've seen, i'm amazed there hasn't been a red warning either. so that is something certainly, as a local authority, we'll be raising directly with the met office. the welsh first minister

believes climate change means there are difficult choices to be made. climate change is going to impact on us, and there will come a point when it will be too difficult for us to protect every home in the country. but clearly we want to put the support in place if we're able to do that for the people impacted. in north wales, after a multi—agency search operation, the body of 75—year—old brian perry was located in the area of gower road in trefiw. mr perry had gone missing on saturday whilst walking his dog near the river conway. for this family living near wrexham, firefighters had to evacuate them from their home. the flood has just come down and there's a tree crashed through the wall of the house at the top side. it's devastating to see. national resources wales, i hold you responsible. where the hell are you? come and do something about this! in the worcestershire town of tenbury wells, the speed at which floodwaters can advance

was on full display. coupled with the melting snow, rising river levels have resulted in more than 100 flood warnings across the uk. in west yorkshire, 11—month—old baby luka had a narrow escape with his father after their vehicle started to become submerged. whilst i was on the phone to the emergency services, water started rising into the car, so i thought i need to get me and my son out of here. so i've climbed out of the driver's seat, ran round to his side, unstrapped him and got him out as quick as i could. and i'd say the water was about chest high, so i was holding him up as high as i could, running out of the water. as storm bert finally clears from the north east, there's quieter weather to follow for many. for residents in affected communities, they are once again faced with the unenviable task of not only cleaning up,

but also getting more funding to reinforce defences to stop it from happening again. vincent mcaviney, bbc news. live now to pontypridd and our correspondent nicky schiller. that town really took a battering this weekend. it did, indeed. battering this weekend. it did, indeed- i'm — battering this weekend. it did, indeed. i'm actually _ battering this weekend. it did, indeed. i'm actually in - battering this weekend. it did, indeed. i'm actually in the - indeed. i'm actually in the area that got flooded over the weekend. you will know from the reports we've been showing that there was over and one's rain injust there was over and one's rain in just two days. let me show you the river which is here. this is what burst its banks, and if i show you around, we've got the local chapel here. you can see the sandbags are here. just a few moments ago, there was a lorry which came along to try and clear some of this debris, but the residents obviously had their sandbags as

quickly as they could. but a lot of them are saying 0beid didn't get enough of a warning from the authorities, and they being gathered outside this vehicle you can see, in front of me, the person who owned it didn't have time to move it. luckily, when he got to wait it did start. but you can see there is the sludge here on the floor. and i am joined now by ray, one of the locals here. thank you for talking to us. just explain what happened with you last night. just explain what happened with you last night-— you last night. during the day yesterday. — you last night. during the day yesterday, the _ you last night. during the day yesterday, the river _ you last night. during the day yesterday, the river broke - you last night. during the day. yesterday, the river broke over the banks_ yesterday, the river broke over the banks area in the morning, about— the banks area in the morning, about 730 _ the banks area in the morning, about 730. we had no warnings from _ about 730. we had no warnings from natural resources wales or the countit— from natural resources wales or the council and water came in immediately. we had to lock the floodgate, move cars, and it was — floodgate, move cars, and it was basically a race against time — was basically a race against time because water came from under—

time because water came from under the _ time because water came from underthe ground. time because water came from under the ground. the river, yes, — under the ground. the river, yes, it — under the ground. the river, yes, it is _ under the ground. the river, yes, it is a _ under the ground. the river, yes, it is a problem, but the main — yes, it is a problem, but the main problem is the water under the ground and from the drains. there's— the ground and from the drains. there's not— the ground and from the drains. there's not enough drainage to cope _ there's not enough drainage to cope when there is a flirt, it can't — cope when there is a flirt, it can't cope _ cope when there is a flirt, it can't cope with the level of water~ _ can't cope with the level of water~ it _ can't cope with the level of water. it comes up from the ground _ water. it comes up from the ground at— water. it comes up from the ground at the front, the train at the — ground at the front, the train at the back, comes into the back— at the back, comes into the back door_ at the back, comes into the back door of the house and ruihs — back door of the house and ruins everything.— ruins everything. give is a sense of— ruins everything. give is a sense of how _ ruins everything. give is a sense of how high up - ruins everything. give is a sense of how high up the | ruins everything. give is a - sense of how high up the water came yesterday, give our viewers... came yesterday, give our viewers - -_ came yesterday, give our viewers... . , ., viewers... 0k. the gates are solid and _ viewers... 0k. the gates are solid and held, _ viewers... 0k. the gates are solid and held, nothing - viewers... 0k. the gates are| solid and held, nothing came through _ solid and held, nothing came throu~h. ., . ~' solid and held, nothing came throu~h. ., . ~ ., ., ., through. you talk about natural resources _ through. you talk about natural resources wales. _ through. you talk about natural resources wales. did _ through. you talk about natural resources wales. did you - through. you talk about natural resources wales. did you get . resources wales. did you get any warning from them? irate resources wales. did you get any warning from them? we had any warning from them? we had an alert from — any warning from them? we had an alert from them _ any warning from them? we had an alert from them at _ any warning from them? we had an alert from them at ten - an alert from them at ten oflock— an alert from them at ten o'clock on saturday morning. therr— o'clock on saturday morning. then silence. nothing, nothing from _ then silence. nothing, nothing from saturday, does the river rose — from saturday, does the river rose we — from saturday, does the river rose we were keeping an eye ohm — rose we were keeping an eye ohm we _ rose we were keeping an eye on... we are all linked to the

app _ on... we are all linked to the app which _ on... we are all linked to the app which gives the warning. nobody— app which gives the warning. nobody received warnings. not until— nobody received warnings. not until sunday morning, 7:40am, we had — until sunday morning, 7:40am, we had a — until sunday morning, 7:40am, we had a flood warning, but it might— we had a flood warning, but it might flood, but it had already flooded, — might flood, but it had already flooded, the river was on the street. — flooded, the river was on the street, because swamped, coming up street, because swamped, coming up to— street, because swamped, coming up to the— street, because swamped, coming up to the gate. you street, because swamped, coming up to the gate-— up to the gate. you were flooded _ up to the gate. you were flooded in _ up to the gate. you were flooded in 2020. - up to the gate. you were flooded in 2020. we - up to the gate. you were l flooded in 2020. we were flooded in 2020. we were flooded in _ flooded in 2020. we were flooded in 2020, - flooded in 2020. we were flooded in 2020, but - flooded in 2020. we were flooded in 2020, but they| flooded in 2020. we were - flooded in 2020, but they were here _ flooded in 2020, but they were here and — flooded in 2020, but they were here and put a van in the street— here and put a van in the street then, keeping and i think _ street then, keeping and i think. they gave us a shout wheh — think. they gave us a shout when the _ think. they gave us a shout when the water came in, move the cars — when the water came in, move the cars. �* ., the cars. but nothing yesterday. _ the cars. but nothing yesterday. do - the cars. but nothing yesterday. do you i the cars. but nothing i yesterday. do you want the cars. but nothing - yesterday. do you want more done? , , , ., done? definitely. it is not so much--- _ done? definitely. it is not so much--- i— done? definitely. it is not so much... i know— done? definitely. it is not so much... i know people - done? definitely. it is not so much... i know people are i much... i know people are saying _ much... i know people are saying the railings across the river, — saying the railings across the river, if— saying the railings across the river, if that could be boarded up river, if that could be boarded up or— river, if that could be boarded up or perspex, but the main problem _ up or perspex, but the main problem is do something with the drains. there's a pump down the drains. there's a pump down the road — the drains. there's a pump down the road which hasn't worked since — the road which hasn't worked since 2020. get that sorted, give — since 2020. get that sorted, give us — since 2020. get that sorted,

give us a _ since 2020. get that sorted, give us a chance that happens again. — give us a chance that happens again, we've got a fighting chance _ again, we've got a fighting chance of avoiding it. thank ou chance of avoiding it. thank you very — chance of avoiding it. thank you very much _ chance of avoiding it. thank you very much for _ chance of avoiding it. thank you very much forjoining i chance of avoiding it. thankj you very much forjoining us chance of avoiding it. thank i you very much forjoining us on bbc news. you can see the residents here are angry that they suffered the flooding back in 2020 and then hell—bent, they don't feel, had sufficient warning of the warning of the water over the weekend. that will be a bigger issue over the coming hours. the clean—up in pontypridd continues. it is pontypridd continues. it is certainly _ pontypridd continues. it is certainly something - pontypridd continues. it is certainly something expressed repeatedly. thank you very much. let's now speak to pj jones who lives in treherbert, a vallyer in south wales — 11 miles from pontrypridd. what sort of weekend have you had? i what sort of weekend have you had? . . what sort of weekend have you had? ., ., , had? i have had better, i will tell ou had? i have had better, i will tell you that. _ had? i have had better, i will tell you that. i _ had? i have had better, i will tell you that. i am _ had? i have had better, i will tell you that. i am sure - had? i have had better, i will tell you that. i am sure you l tell you that. i am sure you have. tell you that. i am sure you have- tell— tell you that. i am sure you have. tell us _ tell you that. i am sure you have. tell us what - tell you that. i am sure you have. tell us what has - tell you that. i am sure you - have. tell us what has happened in your property and your family. in your property and your famil . ~' , ., , family. like the previous erson family. like the previous person said, _ family. like the previous person said, there - family. like the previous person said, there was l family. like the previousl person said, there was no boring. i left the house at six

o'clock thinking it would be another day —— there was no warning. i wasn't expecting a half in ourjourney to take two hours. half in our “ourney to take two hours. ~ . . , half in our “ourney to take two hours. ~ . ., ,, hours. what has happened in terms of facilities _ hours. what has happened in terms of facilities to - hours. what has happened in terms of facilities to your - terms of facilities to your house, water supply, electrics? at the moment the electrics are working around here, but we have had the council saying boiler... my house isn't too bad, but there are houses getting brown water here. they are trying to hand out water bottles at local centres, but it's not enough.— it's not enough. you've got some land _ it's not enough. you've got some land nearby- it's not enough. you've got some land nearby which i it's not enough. you've got i some land nearby which belongs to you. what has happened to it and any animals on it? taste to you. what has happened to it and any animals on it?— and any animals on it? we have some lounge — and any animals on it? we have some lounge on _ and any animals on it? we have some lounge on the _ and any animals on it? we have some lounge on the local- some lounge on the local mountain, which is one of the ways to work. that was unable to traverse over. the land has flooded, i believe you've got a

video of all the water. that is one of the main entry points when we are bringing the horses in the fields. 0n when we are bringing the horses in the fields. on top of it, there are new streams and little rivers that which we didn't have before.- little rivers that which we didn't have before. what do you want to change _ didn't have before. what do you want to change to _ didn't have before. what do you want to change to prevent i didn't have before. what do you want to change to prevent this i want to change to prevent this happening again? you have said you feel you should have more warning. you feel you should have more warninu. ~ . , you feelyou should have more warninu. ~ . , , . warning. what else? the smaller communities _ warning. what else? the smaller communities here, _ warning. what else? the smaller communities here, we _ warning. what else? the smaller communities here, we are i warning. what else? the smaller communities here, we are in i warning. what else? the smaller communities here, we are in the| communities here, we are in the bottom of the valley where there's only one made road. we need more help from the council. there is local water in the centres but not enough to go around. for the next couple of days i will have murky water coming out of my taps. murky water coming out of my ta s. . , ., ., murky water coming out of my ta 5, ., y., ., ., murky water coming out of my tas. . ., ., taps. can you get out, how easy is it with all — taps. can you get out, how easy is it with all the flooding? it i is it with all the flooding? it is it with all the flooding? it is dangerous to drive through it. i is dangerous to drive through it. ., is dangerous to drive through it. . ., ., ~ ., it. i am looking out the window. _ it. i am looking out the window, we _ it. i am looking out the window, we have i it. i am looking out thej window, we have some it. i am looking out the i window, we have some sun. i it. i am looking out the _ window, we have some sun. i am thankful i live... i have had

water inside the shops. taste thankfull live... i have had water inside the shops. we hope the hear water inside the shops. we hope they hear your — water inside the shops. we hope they hear your appeal _ water inside the shops. we hope they hear your appeal to - water inside the shops. we hope they hear your appeal to get i they hear your appeal to get some freshwater. it is being delivered to other places, hope it reaches you. thank you for talking to is, i'm sorry you are going through a top time. —— tough time. aaron thierry who lives in taff�*s wells village in south wales that has been flooded. dr thierry is an earth—system scientist based at cardiff university. it isn't the first time it has been flooded in your area. its, been flooded in your area. few years ago with storm dennis and the same properties have flooded. havingjust and the same properties have flooded. having just tried to get over the last time, it is heartbreaking.— get over the last time, it is heartbreaking. you have to question — heartbreaking. you have to question the _ heartbreaking. you have to

question the frequency i heartbreaking. you have to question the frequency of l heartbreaking. you have to i question the frequency of these events when there was talk of what happened four years ago, which was a worn in 100 of them. it which was a worn in 100 of them. ., , �* ., ., , them. it doesn't mean anything. this is the _ them. it doesn't mean anything. this is the climate _ them. it doesn't mean anything. this is the climate crisis. - this is the climate crisis. scientists say this will become more common in this hotter climate we have created. and they will become even more common if we don't rapidly face ourfossilfuel burning. we common if we don't rapidly face our fossil fuel burning. we are dealing with the effects, and we will see more extreme floods, and, worst than anything we've had, if we don't get a handle on it. we need to phase out fossil fuels and massively climate adaptation. you are hearing from the other interviewees before me the impacts they are feeling right now, and the need for investment in infrastructure, investment in infrastructure, investment in infrastructure, investment in flood defence and rapid response disaster

response. we need to see it from the government right now. the community climate change have repeatedly said the uk government is way behind addressing change, and that is something we want the government to step up to. what sort of adaptation, _ government to step up to. what sort of adaptation, mitigation can deal with the amount of water we are seeing in some places? is it really possible to protect everywhere? it places? is it really possible to protect everywhere? it might not be possible _ to protect everywhere? it might not be possible to _ to protect everywhere? it might not be possible to protect i not be possible to protect everywhere, that will lead to some difficult conversations we need to have as a country. but yes, we can do a lot more, and that would be investing in hard defences but soft offences as well and catchment management. if we can better restore wetland areas on top of the hills to hold the water into patchett, butchery planting and so on can help. there are things we can do to make a big

difference —— but tree planting. difference —— but tree planti