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Rain threatens more flooding
28/07/2007 14:24 - (SA)
London - Heavy rain could bring more chaos over the weekend in parts of the country already devastated by the worst flooding in 60 years, the Met Office
said on Saturday.
Forecasters issued severe weather warnings for much of southern England and Wales, with up to 4cm of rain expected to fall in six to nine hours from Saturday evening.
Swollen rivers could burst their banks, while surface water
may cause flash floods.
Large areas have been left under water and at least eight
people have died during weeks of torrential rain. Thousands are
still without mains water.
Police in Gloucestershire, one of the worst affected areas,
stepped up patrols on Saturday around emergency water tanks
after some were vandalised.
Gloucestershire Chief Constable Tim Brain said some bowsers
were damaged and there had been one case of someone urinating in
a water tank.
He warned that bogus callers posing as water company workers
may take advantage of the disruption to steal from people's
houses.
"People are reminded to carefully check the identity of any
caller at their address," a police spokesperson said. "We would
again urge people to keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours
during this difficult time."
In the past two months, Britain has experienced the heaviest
rainfall since records began in 1766.
At least eight people died during a month of torrential
rain. Insurers estimate the damage could cost £3bn and farmers say crops have been wrecked.
- Reuters
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