Flash flooding sparks road closures

3 June 2008 03:56pm

A number of roads have been closed and schools shut after heavy rain caused flash flooding in parts of the country.

Prolonged downpours hit much of the south and east of England as storms from mainland Europe led to some areas receiving up to a month's average rainfall for June in 24 hours.

The Environment Agency said two rivers were on flood warning and 19 rivers across the country on flood watch.

The worst-hit county was Oxfordshire where fire and rescue crews were called to a number of flood-related incidents in Thame, Chinnor, Wheatley and Witney.

The county council said eight roads had been closed and a row of homes in the Tiddington area may have to be evacuated.

About 500 children were sent home from Peers School in Littlemore, Oxford, after it was feared pupils would have trouble getting home.

Tony Conlan, forecaster at MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said that much of the country had been given a soaking as the band of rain moved eastwards.

"It has been a very slow process and the rain has persisted over the same areas, and that is why we have seen some flooding.

"The worst hit areas have been Oxfordshire and counties to the south but there has also been heavy rain in parts of north-east England, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire."

The Environment Agency said flood warnings had been put on the River Ray and its tributaries from Shipton Lee to Islip, Oxfordshire and The Emm Brook from Wokingham to Winnersh, Berkshire. There was also 19 flood watches on rivers in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and the Midlands.

© The Press Association