Storm Bert: More rain forecast as clean-up begins

More rain is due to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday in southern England and south Wales, where flooding and high winds from Storm Bert have caused major disruption to homes, roads and rail networks.

At least five people have died in the storm that struck much of the UK over the weekend and prompted criticism about a lack of preparation and insufficient warnings.

The severe flood warning for the River Nene in Northamptonshire remains in force with a “danger to life and risk of significant disruption”, as a holiday park has been submerged for the third time this year.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said more flooding is likely this week but it should be “less severe” than on Sunday.

He told the Commons on Monday around 28,000 properties were being protected by Environment Agency flood defences.

He said an estimated 107 properties had flooded across England, “principally from river and surface water flooding”.

Residents of flood-hit areas are being left with major clean-up jobs, with one business owner telling the BBC her store had been devastated.

“Everything’s been wiped out this time,” said Laura Jones, whose crafts shop in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, was hit.

“Business is totally finished, flooding has wiped us out one too many times.”

Politicians and residents in south Wales, one of the areas worst hit by the flooding, have criticised what they say is a lack of preparation and insufficient warning from officials.

A clean-up operation is under way in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where locals said lessons were not learned from Storm Dennis, which left much of the town under water in 2020.

One resident, Paula, said authorities “promised us the world, and delivered absolutely nothing”.

An estimated 200 properties have been flooded in the area.

Andrew Morgan, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said he was “amazed” that only a yellow weather warning was put in place.

Heledd Fychan, Plaid Cymru Senedd member for South Wales Central, said the warnings came too late: “It’s just by luck that it wasn’t worse this.”

The Environment Agency issued more than 100 warnings – meaning flooding is expected – and nearly 150 flood alerts across England on Monday.

Police there are warning against all unnecessary travel, and have told people “not to drive through floodwater of any depth”.

The local fire and rescue service said it was working to evacuate the Billing Aquadrome holiday park, with around 1,000 affected.

Some residents of south-east Wales have been advised to boil their water before using it to avoid contamination.

Scotland has been less affected by floods, with five warnings and alerts in place. None have been issued in Northern Ireland.

But Storm Bert is now centred on the north-west of the UK and is tracking eastwards across Scotland, bringing heavy showers and strong winds.

Blocked and flooded rail lines led some train operators to cancel services in several areas on Monday.

Great Western Railway, which runs trains between London and south west England, advised passengers not to travel on any of its routes.

West Midlands Railway warned of severe disruption to some of its routes after flooding in Northamptonshire.

National Rail has warned of disruption across England, Wales and Scotland and advised customers to check their routes before travelling.

Drivers are also being affected as many roads around the UK have been closed in flood-hit areas.

Severe flooding has also prompted school closures.

At least 30 schools were closed in Wales on Monday with more than a dozen closed in Wiltshire and seven having to shut in Oxfordshire.

Some 57 children were rescued from a coach taking them to school near Evesham, Worcestershire, when it became stuck in a flooded ditch.

Students were ferried to dry land in a fire service rescue boat.

In Wiltshire, Chippenham town centre was brought to a standstill after the River Avon burst its banks.

Becky Lyons runs a pet shop in the town and said her premises was left under several feet of water: “I feel a bit empty and numb. I’ve put everything into this shop.”

Ben Ruddy, whose fish and chip shop was flooded in Lydney, Gloucestershire, said: “The sandbags did not do a lot. Within a couple of hours the water was over them.”

In Worcestershire, police are investigating footage of a tractor being driven through flooded streets which caused bow waves to hit shop windows.

Louise Preston, who owns a pottery shop in Tenbury Wells, said her store’s front window was smashed by the water as the tractor drove past.

West Mercia Police said it was “aware of videos circulating on social media” and is investigating.

West Midlands Fire Service had warned people against driving through flood water on Sunday.

Details have emerged about the five men who died over the weekend as a result of the adverse weather.

North Wales Police confirmed a body was found after Brian Perry, a 75 year-old dogwalker, went missing near the River Conwy in Trefriw on Sunday.

Mohammed Wahid, a 34-year-old man whose car hit a wall in the snow in Shipley, West Yorkshire, died on Saturday.

Three other men died in road accidents on Saturday. A man died when his car was hit by a tree on the A34 at Winnall, Hampshire, and another man crashed on the A45 near Flore, Northamptonshire, during rush hour.

A third man, in his 80s, died after driving into a ford in Colne, Lancashire.

The Met Office said it would conduct a full assessment of Bert Storm but said it was “well forecast” in advance with a number of warnings issued.

Natural Resources Wales said the government body would “absolutely” look into complaints about a lack of preparedness.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the government had committed £2.4bn to upgrade the UK’s flood defences, which he described as “in their worst condition on record”.