The British floods

Floods and storms predicted 

as rescue services endure 

busy weekend

Search for angler continues in Scotland, while forecasters warn that appalling weather may continue throughout February

the Guardian,

26 January, 2013

The Met Office is warning the weather pattern that has caused floodingacross swaths of the UK may continue for the rest of the month as the weekend's storms resulted in 180 more homes being inundated and led to a series of dramatic rescues.

Forecasters say this week is likely to be blighted by torrential rain and winds of more than 70mph, while high tides and a heavy Atlantic swell will continue to add to the problems for the next day or so. But, looking further forward, the Met Office said unsettled weather – generally dull and rainy but punctuated by more storms – is set to last for another fortnight and possibly for the rest of the month.

The forecast was greeted with glumness on the Somerset Levels, which has been hit worst by this year's flooding. Though no fresh properties were flooded over the weekend, the river Parrett burst its banks again, sending water spilling on to saturated fields and roads.

It was also bad news for people in Gloucestershire, where around 30 homes flooded this weekend after the spring tide resulted in the Severn Bore sweeping up river.

People living near the Severn and other major rivers have been warned of further flooding this week as water that has been gathering in uplands over the last few weeks feeds down into the system.

It was a busy weekend for rescue services. Helicopters, coastguards and lifeboat crews were searching on Sunday for an angler who disappeared from rocks on Tangle-Ha, Aberdeenshire.

Labour criticised the environment secretary, Owen Paterson, for his handling of the flooding with his shadow, Maria Eagle, claiming he had "lost a grip" on the situation. She also claimed some water companies had been "keeping quiet" about the crisis.

In Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, traditionally a flooding hotspot, publican Peter Bartlett had to swim through floodwater to get help for his wife, Carole, and her brother, Kevin Leach, after their boat capsized during a shopping trip they had attempted to make from the Yew Tree Inn, which has been cut off since Christmas.

Surfers attempt to ride waves caused by floodwaters at the river Severn Bore in Newnham, Gloucestershire. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Rescuers saved the pair, who had clung on to a semi-submerged tree, but Leach's dog, a greyhound called Autumn, drowned.

Bartlett said: "The pub has been cut off since before Christmas by the flood water. There's only been one winter in the last seven when we haven't had to close. Last year we were shut from November to March."

Six crew members were rescued from their fishing boat after it was damaged in stormy seas off the wave-battered north Cornwall coast. Five were winched to safety by a Royal Navy helicopter and the sixth was recovered by the Padstow lifeboat. The fishing boat remained adrift after attempts to tow it failed.

In Wales, 10 people were rescued from a bus in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, after it was hit by a large wave before being surrounded by floodwater.

Inland, a group of students was rescued after getting lost while attempting to climb the Pumlumon mountain near Aberystwyth in mid-Wales. Brecon mountain rescue team incident manager Dave Coombs said: "The weather conditions were atrocious, with gales, sleet and driving rain, and too severe for search and rescue helicopters to assist. The students were lucky that the teams found them when they did."

It was not just humans that needed help. In Essex eight horses were swum to safety from flooded fields close to the river Chelmer by RSPCA inspectors.

 A flooded street in Colnbrook, Buckinghamshire. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

As darkness fell on Sunday, severe flood warnings, meaning lives are in danger, were in force for two stretches of the Severn in Gloucestershire and almost all of the south Cornish coast. The Environment Agency said the whole of the south of England faces an "increased risk" of flooding.

The agency's flood risk manager, Kate Marks, said: "With further severe weather conditions expected, the Environment Agency is likely to issue further warnings so people should check their flood risk and get early warnings so they can take action to protect their property."

Since Friday 180 homes in England and Wales have been flooded – on top of the 40 in the Somerset Levels.

Scientists there have found that dirty floodwater contained high levels of bacteria, which could be a danger to health. The tests, by microbiologists from Reading University, on waters in Moorlands, Somerset, found 60,000-70,000 bacteria per 100 millilitres. According to the World Health Organisation, agricultural water should have no more than 1,000 per 100ml.

Levels resident Gavin Sadler, a father of two and a member of Flooding on the Levels Action Group, said: "I've been looking out at where my garden used to be and I can now see a lake instead. There's only been a slight drop in water levels, but with more rain there's growing concern about the situation.

"We were in the same boat last year and were told it was a one-in-a-100-year flood – now it's happened again. We began speaking our concerns on 18 December and it feels like it's only now that we are being taken seriously.

"In that time we're now into our fifth week of flooding and the water study now shows 60 times more than the safe pollution levels. Some lessons need to be learned."

Two specialist vehicles arrived in Somerset to help residents. Officials say the Swedish-made all-terrain BV206s will be able to access flooded areas where the water is too deep for a traditional 4x4 but too shallow for a boat. Both vehicles will be able to transport passengers while one will help carry supplies such as fuel, wood and animal feed.

The high tides were good news, at least, for 30 thrill-seekers who defied warnings 

to stay away and rode the Severn Bore on surf boards and canoes.