Major incident declared as Somerset homes flooded and roads blocked

A major incident has been declared after dozens of homes and roads in the West Country have been hit by widespread flooding.

Heavy rain caused disruption to the M5 in Somerset as Storm Chandra battered the region. The M48 Severn Crossing was also shut due to high winds, with drivers being advised to use the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.

Rail routes between Exeter St Davids and Castle Cary, Taunton and Bridgwater in Somerset have been closed due to flooding, as has the track between Bedwyn and Westbury in Wiltshire.

Scores of children were also off school after 18 were closed and a number of homes were evacuated due to rising floodwater.

On Tuesday evening Somerset Council declared a major incident in response to the flooding, adding that while drier weather was forecast for Wednesday, the risk of flooding on the Levels and Moors “remains high”.

Council leader Bill Revans said: “We’ve had teams working through the night and we are continuing to respond to many reports of roads which remain impassable.

“Please avoid travelling if you can and never attempt to drive through flood water.”

Eighteen schools across Somerset and Wiltshire were closed, including Cheddon Fitzpaine Church School, Danesfield Church of England School in Taunton, and Curry Rivel Church of England School, as well as Chilmark and Fonthill Bishop School near Salisbury.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed 33 properties had been flooded in the Ilminster area, with crews sent to the scene to evacuate houses.

Fire crews also rescued 25 people from their vehicles in floodwater on Tuesday morning, the service said.

Residents of Severn Drive on the edge of Blackbrook, Taunton, also saw floodwater rise up through their floors early on Tuesday morning.

Householders James and Faye Wade said they had been “shocked” by the flooding, which they noticed at about 05:00 GMT.

“We were helpless,” said James. “It was coming up through the air bricks, going through the laminate floor, the carpet.

“There was nothing we could do, we just had to let Mother Nature take its course.”

Further rain is on the way, with a new yellow weather warning for Thursday covering south-west England issued by the Met Office.

The warning covers parts of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

It may lead to more flooding and transport disruption, the Met Office warned.

The alert comes into force at 12:00 on Thursday and remains in place until 23:59.

For more information on flooding in your area check the Environment Agency website.