GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVALS: Massive Crack Opens Up Along Jurassic Coast In Dorset, England - Measured About 328 FEET; Thousands Of TONNES Of Earth Moved; Walkers Warned To Steer Clear Of The Chasm! [PHOTOS]

© ITV News

April 16, 2016 - ENGLAND - A huge crack running 100m (328ft) opened up on a section of Dorset's Jurassic Coast on April 13, 2016. It appeared between Bowleaze Cove and Redcliff Point at Preston, near Weymouth.

The massive crack splits the land in two on the famous Jurassic Coast in Dorset.

The resulting crevasse measures about 250 yards long, up to 3ft wide and 4ft deep on April 12, 2016.

Thousands of tonnes of earth have given way and will continue to slip away, changing the landscape of the renowned coastline.

It is unknown when the cliff will fall down on the beach, but walkers and tourists are now being warned to steer clear of the chasm.

© Dorset Echo/Alan Holiday

Coastguards said the crack started to appear at the end of March.
© BBC/Wyke Regis Coastguard

The drop in the cracked section is just over 1m (3ft).© BBC

This gigantic landslip was caused by heavy rainfall in the last few months. Fossil hunters and beachgoers are also being warned as the crack will mean extra clay and mud on the shore below the cliff.

As if an earthquake had struck.

The thing is that this geological process is all part of a progressive evolution of the coastline. If hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rock have moved there is an increased risk of rock falls and mud that will spill out onto the beach and create a danger.

Watch a video here.

The soil is very unstable right now so keep away.

- Strange Sounds.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR: Jellyfish Invasion - Rare Heat Wave Brings BILLIONS Of Jellyfish To British Shores; Over A MILE-LONG! [PHOTOS + VIDEOS]

Making waves: Billions of barrel jellyfish have been spotted in water off the coast of Devon and Cornwall

April 19, 2015 - BRITAIN - A mile-long jellyfish invasion has hit UK shores due to the warmer weather as temperatures are set to soar again next week bringing a two-day heatwave.

The swarm of jellyfish were spotted off the coast of Cornwall by a fisherman.

It comes as April has experienced temperatures which are almost double the average for the time of year.

The Met Office says the UK is set for another two days of warm weather as temperatures are predicted to rise to 69.8F (21C) on Tuesday, with them dropping to 68F (20C) on Wednesday.

Forecaster Emma Sillitoe said: "The temperatures are usually 13C to 14C at this time of year but on Tuesday we will see them rising to up to 21C in London and Southampton. On Wednesday they will remain high but but drop to 20C."

Last week the hottest day of the year so far was recorded at 77F (25C) at St James's Park in London.

The warm weather has seen an influx of jellyfish off the south coast.

Footage captured on a fishing boat off Falmouth Bay show swarms of barrel jellyfish gliding through calm water.

Wildlife enthusiast Ross Wheeler, who filmed them, said: “This video shows a section of a swarm which was like a carpet and approximately a mile long."

“We were out fishing and noticed thousands of barrel jelly fish across the bay... so many,

“We tried to avoid them but they were everywhere.

Experts say their stings are not powerful enough to do any serious harm, but warn swimmers that it is best not to touch them.
© The Telegraph, UK

Invasion: Experts believe the barrel jellyfish, which can grow up to six feet, have been attracted by the warmer waters and a lack of predators

"I filmed them as I was so surprised by the numbers, and size. Joey my fiancé goes spear fishing and was swimming amongst them near St Anthony’s Head - Very eerie!”

The huge Barrel Jellyfish, which can have tentacles of up to six feet long have been spotted off the south east coast, much earlier than they are normally seen in British waters.

They have been growing in numbers in recent years because of mild winters which have allowed plankton, which they feed on, to thrive.

The warm weather has also resulted in toxic algae in the Norfolk Broads rising by unprecedented levels for the time of year.

WATCH: Giant swarm of jellyfish more than a mile-long swim off the coast of Cornwall.

It led the Environment Agency to launch a rescue mission to relocate 500,000 fish to stop them suffocating.

The UK has also just enjoyed the sunniest winter since records began.

The previous record was in 2001, when there were 189 hours of sunshine. That mark was beaten this winter with the total hours of sunshine reaching 196.

The warmest ever April temperature was 66 years ago, when the mercury reached 84.9F (29.4C).

In April 2011, temperatures reached 81.3F (27.4C). - Telegraph.

MASS BEES/BIRDS/ANIMAL DIE-OFF: Latest Incidents Across The Earth - 15,000 Seabirds Found Dead During Past Month Along The West Coast Of France; Mass Die-Off Of Bees In Murwillumbah, In Australia; Hundreds Of Dead Seabirds Continue To Wash Up On Beaches In Dorset, England; And 2,500 Cattle Dead Due To Outbreak Of Disease In Sukhbaatar, Mongolia!

February 24, 2014 - EARTH - The following constitutes the latest incidents of mass animal, bird and bees die-offs across the Earth:

15,000 Seabirds Found Dead During The Past Month Along The West Coast Of France.

Puffins found dead on a beach. © Maxppp

For the third consecutive weekend, the LPO Charente-Maritime asks its volunteers through the tracks to identify birds flood victims, some may still be saved if they are caught early.

Since the early storms in January, 15,000 dead birds or downer were found all along the coast of the Atlantic. They number in the thousands in Charente-Maritime for over a fortnight. This is mostly guillemots and puffins, birds of the high seas who found no food in the sea due to bad weather.

Charente-Maritime, those who are found alive on the beach are supported, warmed and fed, the Centre for the Protection Departmental Dolus-D'Oléron the only department. Since January 29, 275 birds are often very weak were housed, only a third survived. -Poitou-Charentes. [Translated]

Mass Die-Off Of Bees In Murwillumbah, Australia.

Luke Page with some of his Bee's outside of Murwillumbah. Blainey Woodham.

Honey producers are facing an environmental disaster with hives being destroyed or abandoned - and some are blaming the crisis on pesticides.

Murwillumbah horticulturist Luke Page cultivated bees for the past 18 months and believes his hives were affected by bug sprays.

"Recently I found a hive and all that was left of the bees was their skeletons.

"The bee is dead on the inside and the outside, and that's consistent with pesticide poisoning," he said.

Black beetle traps set inside Mr Page's hives. Blainey Woodham.

He has ruled out all growers in Tweed bar corn because they are sprayed daily.

 Mr Page admits the reason for the death of his bees is based on speculation, but his suspicions were confirmed by others in the region.

"I have spoken to a gentleman in Pottsville and he had hives go in a similar way."

Adding to complexity, farmers say they are using pesticides which are perfectly legal.

"We spray Australian standard pesticides first thing in the morning, when there is no breeze, so bees don't get into it," Cugden corn farmer Ross Julius said.

However, as of late, bee keepers who normally bring hives as a pollination service, in-kind for nectar, have not visited Mr Julius' property.

"You'd have to ask them why they don't bring their hives anymore," he told the Daily News.

 Mr Page with some of his hives. Blainey Woodham.

Doug Paddon, another grower from Cudgen, says to prevent bee deaths farmers must be strategic.

"I have wild bees in a shed to pollinate many crops. When they're active I don't spray and when they're dormant I do spray, but only at night when other bees are not working."

The Daily News' community paper, the Tweed Border Mail, reported this week a devastation of Australian honey bees following a feral beetle infestation, climate change and disappearing disease. - My Daily News.

Hundreds Of Dead And Dying Seabirds Continue To Wash Up On Beaches In Dorset, England.

Thousands of birds could be dying along the coast, conservationists believe.

Hundreds of dead and distressed birds are still being washed up on a beach in Dorset. Conservationists believe a deadly combination of storms and pollution are to blame.

"It's a large population of birds that's gone. It's appalling and it seems to be no end to it."

Conservationist Derek Davey is one of a number of volunteers helping clear up litter washed on to Chesil Beach by the recent storms.

Among the litter is a grimmer debris - the carcasses of hundreds of dead birds.

They include razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, puffins and auks. Mr Davey said he thought thousands could have died in total.

"There are still birds out there coming in and they're going to die tonight," he says.

Steve Trewhella thinks the pollutant is palm or vegetable oil dumped somewhere in Lyme Bay

Recent storms and pollution are thought to be the cause as some of the birds are covered in oil.

Lumps of what is thought to be palm or vegetable oil have also been found washed up along the beach.

It is thought that birds exhausted by the severe weather were struggling to feed, becoming weaker as a result. Any birds that became covered in oil would have also struggled as the substance impairs their waterproofing.

Dorset Wildlife Trust said some birds had been washed ashore alive but even those were found to be exhausted, weak and hungry.

"The whole beach is covered in these large lumps of what we believe to be either palm or vegetable oil," said Steve Trewhella, a conservationist and photographer from Wareham.

"It's a smelly rancid substance. I believe it's a danger to dogs, it must undoubtedly be a danger to wildlife."

He believes the oil was probably dumped somewhere in Lyme Bay.
'Landfill site'

"A majority of this litter is from the shipping and fishing industry. Some of it is from as far away as Newfoundland, Canada, but the majority of it is fairly local.

"There have been hundreds of birds washing up for a couple of weeks now - it's exceptional numbers.

"These are birds that are quite far out to sea and are probably dying of exhaustion [due to the stormy weather].

"The problem is they are already under so much pressure from fishing, pollution, PIB oil and all these other pollutants.

Volunteers have been trying to clean the debris and dead birds from Chesil Beach.

"These natural occurrences just put unbearable pressure on things that are already in decline."

Local volunteers have been clearing up rubbish and rescuing birds.

Mr Trewhella called on the government to help.

"It's very depressing. This a world heritage site - it looks more like a landfill site.

"I feel like dragging local MPs and councillors down to this beach and saying: 'Look, dead birds everywhere, pollution. This is something that needs to be tackled at government level'."

The deaths follow the PIB [polyisobutene] incident last year, where more than 1,000 sea birds were found dead on the south coast, covered in a deadly sticky glue substance.

PIB - a lubricant used to improve the engine performance of ships - was found on seabirds, mainly guillemots, in two separate instances between January and May.

It was thought to have come from a ship washing out its tank at sea.

The incident led to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reclassifying PIBs from 2014, meaning ships can now only wash their tanks and dispose of all PIB residues while in port.

Dorset Wildlife Trust urged anyone who finds dead or injured birds not to touch them and instead contact the Chesil Beach Centre or the RSPCA.

The lumps are strewn across the beach.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it had also received reports of small amounts of substances washing up on the Isle of Wight and Littlehampton over the past two weeks.

A spokeswoman said: "With the recent storms in the Atlantic, substances far out to sea may have been churned up and brought ashore by the treacherous conditions.

"The MCA continues to monitor all sources of information on pollution at sea through shipping aviation and satellite surveillance.

"As, and when, we receive relevant information the MCA is ready to act to try to determine the source of that pollution." - BBC.

Thousands Of Chickens Killed Due To Avian Flu In Sunsari District, Nepal.

Bird flu has been detected in two poultry farms in Itahari of Sunsari district. After confirmation that the chickens in poultry farms run by Tika Bahadur Rai and Hari Bahadur Karki at Itahari -7 had contracted avian influenza (H5N1) virus, a rapid response team culled the fowls and destroyed the eggs.

According to the District Veterinary Office (DVO), a rapid response team led by veterinarian Indra Narayan Sah culled 1,552 chickens from the two farms on Thursday. The Team also destroyed 20 crates of eggs at Rai´s farm. Bird flu was confirmed in these two farms after around 300 chickens in Rai´s farm died mysteriously.

“I had invested over a million in the poultry farm. But the chickens started dying a few days ago. Within a week, all my chickens died,” said Rai. Dr Bodh Raj Parajuli, director at the Regional Veterinary Directorate at Biratnagar, said chickens as well as other birds in the radius of 500 meters from the farm would also be destroyed.

Parajuli also urged poultry farmers to immediately report to the authorities if their chickens demonstrate symptoms of depression, lack of appetite, and a marked increase in mortality. - MyRepublica.

2,500 Cattle Dead Due To Outbreak Of Disease In Sukhbaatar, Mongolia.

Click HERE for the full report.

MAJOR STORM ALERT: "APOCALYTIC Storm Brigid Rages Towards The United Kingdom, Bringing 150 MPH KILLER Winds, Rain And Snow; Days After Deluge Of "Double The Normal Rainfall" Leaves Britain In The Wettest January In 100 YEARS! [PHOTOS]

January 31, 2014 - UNITED KINGDOM - A VIOLENT and destructive storm is hurtling across the Atlantic and will smash into Britain TONIGHT. The entire country faces at least three days of torrential downpours, savage 150mph gales and weeks of relentless flood misery.

Storm Brigid is gathering pace in the Atlantic and heading for Britain [Eumetsat Meteosat]

Storm Brigid is expected to first hit UK shores later this afternoon before the full force of the onslaught rips into the country tomorrow.

Experts say it threatens to cause destruction on a par with the ferocious October St Jude’s Day Storm and subsequent Storm Emily which hit in December.

It came as figures show some areas of England have already had their wettest January since records began.

The Met Office said much of the south and Midlands already had twice the average rainfall for January by midnight on Tuesday - with three days still left in the month.

Several inches of rain are likely to fall in a matter of hours through the next few days, sealing the record for England’s wettest winter in history.

So far eight inches of rain have fallen since the beginning of December, with just eight more needed to beat the 1914/15 record of 16.

Officials have warned Britain will be crippled by frenzied winds capable of up ripping trees and tearing roof slates from buildings.

Rivers already close to overflowing are likely to burst their banks sparking a torrent of flood warnings and alerts across the nation.

Forecasters have warned a run of storms are lined up in the Atlantic threatening torrential rain and gales for at least a week.

Swathes of the country have been left under inches of water after heavy and relentless rain which has held out for weeks.

Government forecasters have issued a raft of severe weather warnings for rain today and tomorrow across the south with more than an inch expected.

There are also warnings for severe gale-force winds and potentially destructive waves along the west coast at the weekend.

A further Met Office warning has been issued for snow across Scotland tomorrow with brutal gales expected to trigger blizzards.

Storm Brigid will bring yet more chaos to coastal owns like Aberystwyth [EPA]

Chief forecaster Frank Saunders warned severe weather over the next few days is likely to lead to travel disruption and loss of power supplies.

He said: “Another very deep area of low pressure will spread heavy rain and strong to gale force winds eastwards across the UK before the associated frontal systemsclear the southeast of England during the early hours of Saturday.

“A band of heavy rain, reaching the west coast of Scotland, will spread eastwards across the rest of Scotland during the day, with the rain turning increasingly to snow as it moves eastwards.

“The snow and heavy rain will also be accompanied by gale force winds, which may lead to localised disruption due to coastal flooding.

“The public should be aware of the likelihood of a spell of disruptive wintry weather, with impacts to travel and perhaps also to power supplies.”

Storm Brigid will bring 'apocalyptic' conditions to the UK [SWNS]

One surf forecasting website described the approaching storm as "apocalyptic" and warned it would the most damaging and dangerous storm to hit the south west in years.

The Environment Agency also warned of the risk of coastal flooding over the next few days and issued 159 flood alerts and 29 more serious flood warnings.

A spokesman said: “A low pressure system combining with high tides could cause coastal flooding around England over the weekend.

“Strong winds and large waves will increase the risk of spray and wave over-topping in coastal areas during this period and some disruption from coastal flooding is possible.

Motorists have been warned to expect chaos this weekend [PA]

“The Environment Agency and Met Office are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Local authorities will respond to any reports of surface water flooding.”

To add to the misery, plunging temperatures in the north will bring bitter winter gales, blizzards and more than eight inches of snow.

Leon Brown, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said parts of the highlands of Scotland are even at risk of potentially catastrophic “avalanches”.

He warned Brigid could pack a punch on a par with December’s storm Emily which saw gusts of 142mph last parts of Scotland.

He said: “Blizzard conditions will develop over the Highlands with heavy rain sweeping across southern to eastern Britain in the afternoon and overnight.

“More than 20cm of snow is also likely over the southern Highlands and Grampians with significant drifting bringing an increasing risk of avalanches.

“The centre of Brigid will bring gales and squally showers to the rest of Britain on Saturday afternoon.

“More wet and windy weather is edging east on Monday, and we can expect more stormy spells of weather later next week, especially Thursday and Friday.”

Forecasters warned the entire country faces yet another day of heavy rain before the full force of the Atlantic storm hits on Saturday.

A deep low pressure system off the coast is timed to coincide with high tides sparking warnings of colossal coastal storm surges.

Anne Bourmer wades through flood water outside her home in Hooe, East Sussex [PA]

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said ferocious storms threaten to hold out until the end of next week.

He said a deep area of low pressure currently hurtling towards the UK will unleash 90mph gales and bring inches of rain in a mater of hours.

He said: “A very intense low pressure system is coming in from the Atlantic which is going to affect the whole of the country.

“The weekend and into Monday and Tuesday is looking very bad with another battering due at the end of next week.

“Fierce winds along the coast will whip up large waves capable of breaching defences, in colder parts of the north the rain will turn to snow.”

Netweather forecaster Jo Farrow said: “Friday night rush hour will be miserable with strong southerly winds and heavy rain and sleet. Conditions on the roads will be difficult.

“As that clears there could be some stormy weather for southern Britain on Saturday as another low pressure moves in, bringing westerly gales  through the Channel.” - Express.

The Wettest January In 100 YEARS As Britain Is Soaked By Double The Normal Rainfall.

Historic data: A large area from East Devon to Kent and inland across parts of the Midlands has
already seen twice the average rainfall for January.

Southern England has seen the wettest January since records began more than 100 years ago, official statistics show.

By Tuesday – with three days of the month still to go – an area from Hampshire to Kent surpassed the highest rainfall record since the Met Office first compiled records in 1910.

Most parts of the UK have seen far more than the average rainfall for the month, with many areas experiencing double.

Further downpours brought flooding to several areas yesterday, including Twickenham in West London. And another band of heavy rain will sweep across the country today, causing yet more flooding as it falls on already saturated ground.

This morning there were 43 flood warnings in place, up from 35 last night, and 162 less serious flood alerts.

In Wales, students in seafront halls of residence at Aberystwyth University are being evacuated today until 4pm on Monday as a precaution.

Flood barriers have been put up at Frankwell in Shrewsbury to protect against a rise in river levels on the Severn after heavy rain in Shropshire on Tuesday, and temporary defences are also set to be erected at Bewdley on the Severn.

Trouble ahead: A Nasa satellite image shows the huge storm over the Atlantic heading for the UK.

Walking on: People take cover under umbrellas from the snow falling on the streets of Birmingham city centre.

This month: South-east and central-southern England has received more than twice its average rainfall -
with 175.2mm (6.9in) between January 1 and 28.

Over the weekend, fierce winds, torrential rain and a tidal surge are set to bring more misery – including to areas such as the Somerset Levels already hit by weeks of severe flooding. Gales and huge waves could swamp coastal flood defences and sea walls, flood properties and cause travel chaos.

A storm will sweep in at 60mph from the Atlantic this morning and most parts of the UK will see heavy rain by lunchtime. More than an inch is expected to fall in a few hours, heralding at least six more days of unsettled weather.

Coastal and tidal areas of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Bristol and south Gloucestershire are also at an increased risk of flooding, the Environment Agency said.

The rest of Gloucestershire, parts of the South East, the North West and Yorkshire and Hull coast will also be affected by the wind, rain and high tides in the next few days.

Flood barriers were erected in Shrewsbury last night to protect against a rise in the level of the Severn. The Environment Agency issued 35 flood warnings and 164 flood alerts. The Met Office issued an amber alert for the South West and yellow alerts stretching across the South Coast and into parts of the Midlands.

Experts say there is no sign of the unsettled weather dispersing for at least ten days, making it likely the country will have endured the wettest winter on record by the end of February.

Southern England saw nearly 7in (175.2mm) of rain between January 1 and 28. The previous record for the region, in January 1988, was 6.2in (158.2mm).

The rainfall across the South West and south Wales reached 8.76in (222.6mm), making January 2014 the fifth wettest on record and wettest since 1995.
Even in Suffolk, a dry area of the country, it has rained for 29 days this month, the highest since records began.

Today, as much as 1.6in (40mm) is expected to fall across the South West, west Wales and southern England.

High tides will leave coastal areas in the South West at risk of flooding, the EA said, and parts of South East England, the North West and Yorkshire and Hull coast will also be affected by the wind, rain and high tides in the next few days.

A Met Office spokesman said: ‘For the UK as a whole, 6.48in (164.6mm) of rain has fallen so far this month, 35 per cent above the long-term average.’

Dr Andrew Barrett, of the University of Reading, said: ‘There’s effectively a storm factory over the Atlantic, caused by cold polar air pressing up against warm, tropical air, causing weather systems to form.

Compared: The weather system has been dubbed 'Take Two Hercules' (right), following the Hercules
storm on January 6. Pictured is a chart of surf height in feet.

Not getting through: Another driver was rescued from near Ingatestone in Essex
where his van became stuck in 5ft of water.

Weather for ducks - and dogs: Even wellies did not provide enough protection from the elements for this dog walker.

Up they go: Homes along the river in Yalding, Kent, as the river levels rise around the village
and more heavy rain sweeps across the country.

Moved around: Saltmoor pumping station near Burrowbridge, Somerset, which has been
badly affected by flooding in recent weeks

‘These have then been steered across Britain by a strong jet stream. The next week to ten days shows no sign of a change... this will almost certainly be the wettest winter on record.’

Farmer and Glastonbury Festival host Michael Eavis blamed the flooding of the Somerset Levels on a decision to halt river dredging over a period of many years.

Mr Eavis, whose farm is on higher land and has not been affected by floods, said that the annual festival will be able to go ahead this year.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: 'Years ago, the Environment Agency took over from the regional drainage board and they decided that the riverbanks were all full of life and everything, and so they stopped the dredging. They sold all these marvellous machines that were made in Lincoln called draglines - fantastic machines, real British engineering - and they sold them off for scrap.

'There were about 50 machines and they were sold for nothing, which was a terrible, terrible decision. But it was an environmental decision in order to preserve the riverbank life - river oysters and little voles and things.'

Mr Eavis rejected the argument that the impact of this January’s heavy rain could not have been predicted.

'It floods every winter here now,' he said. 'It’s not a 100-year thing. It floods every single year and it never used to. For the sake of the meadows and the wild flowers and the fields and the farmers and the cows, this drainage has to be done. There’s no other way of doing it.

'The choice is to abandon the farmland and let it all flood and leave it all to wading birds. [Farming] is so fundamentally important and an essential part of the Somerset Levels and the alternative is a terrible, terrible prospect.

More rain on the way: Environment Agency staff carry sandbags to protect homes
next to the River Parrett in Burrowbridge.

Difficult time: General view of flooded land near Burrowbridge, Somerset. Heavy rain and high tides
are expected to cause further flooding this weekend.

Assistance: The woman was smiling as she was helped by other people as Yalding in Kent was hit by flooding.

Wet wet wet: Flooded fields around the River Tone seen from Windmill Hill, Somerset,
yesterday as flooding persists on the levels in the South West.

'We were trying to launch a drainage scheme last September and we were getting a little bit of permission to do something, but it was stopped. Now the

Prime Minister is behind it, we need to get the machines from somewhere and get the work done. It’s too late now and it’s too wet at the moment, but for next winter I’m sure it will be done during the summer time of 2014. Thank God, by the end of 2014 going into 2015 we will be OK again.'

Some 13 alerts were active inside the M25, with the most central one being for the River Thames from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weir in West London.

High tides of at least 40ft were expected this evening in Cardiff and Weston-Super-Mare on the west coast of England and Wales, and 31ft in Liverpool.

Surfing forecast website Magic Seaweed has dubbed the weather system ‘Take Two Hercules’, following the Hercules storm on January 6.

Its editor Ed Timberley told MailOnline today: ‘The tides are incredibly high. They are right at the maximum range.

‘The peak of the storm is hitting on Saturday in terms of the swell. You're looking at 30ft conditions near the shore, and 50ft-plus out to sea.

‘The tides are at their highest level on Saturday night. This is a storm right up there in the top 1 per cent in terms of swell size.

‘You’ve got a perfect scenario for storm surges in coastal towns, and a lot of these places are already suffering from the previous set of storms.’

Specialist vehicles were being brought in so troops can deliver food to stricken villagers, transport people and deliver sandbags.

The Ministry of Defence has deployed military planners to help Somerset County Council, with soldiers on the ground in the area from this morning.

Up to an inch of rain could fall across the Somerset Levels throughout tomorrow, with strong winds of up to 60mph forecast by MeteoGroup.

The Environment Agency had 166 flood alerts and 32 flood warnings in place this morning across England and Wales, with most in the South.

Some 13 alerts were active inside the M25, with the most central one being for the River Thames from Putney Bridge to Teddington Weir in West London.

High tides of at least 40ft were expected this evening in Cardiff and Weston-Super-Mare on the west coast of England and Wales, and 31ft in Liverpool.

Specialist vehicles were being brought in so troops can deliver food to stricken villagers, transport people and deliver sandbags.

The Ministry of Defence has deployed military planners to help Somerset County Council, with soldiers on the ground in the area from this morning.

The Army is currently on standby to help villages cut off by the floods, and military planners yesterday met with council officials and emergency services to discuss how to bring relief to stranded communities. Around 40 properties have been flooded, the EA said.

Speaking to the BBC after a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said last night: ‘The Ministry of Defence and the Department for Local Government are discussing how we could deploy specialist vehicles which could help some of those villages which have been cut off, to help people travel backwards and forwards, to get fuel and food in and out, and to help with transport from dry land.

‘And secondly, there will also be help with sandbags which could help prevent further flooding.’

Pat Flaherty, Somerset County Council deputy chief executive, said last night the Army had been providing much-welcomed advice and operational support, and had visited flood-stricken communities.

But the council decided that current needs are being met by the fire service and the British Red Cross, which together are supplying 10 additional pumps, hovercraft and a high-sided 4x4 Unimog vehicle to deliver aid, while the military will remain on standby if the situation worsens.

He said: 'The military have come in at short notice, worked with our teams to assess what’s needed and what’s required and the fire service has met that need through its national specialist vehicles and trained staff.

'With potential flooding coming up over the weekend and flooding ongoing for weeks ahead, we now have any military help and support very much on call.

'The military have been involved in this incident for a period of time through the co-ordination group that we have. They have been there, they have been advising and they have been observing.'

Chief Superintendent Caroline Peters, of Avon and Somerset Police, who is chairman of the strategic co-ordination group, said she was confident civil authorities could manage.

She said: 'What the military can bring is a very quick response with additional resources should we require them.

Orange and red: The Environment Agency had 166 flood alerts and 32 flood warnings
in place yesterday across England and Wales, up to 43 today.

 An amateur photographer captured this once-in-a-lifetime image of a lightning bolt striking over Tower Bridge
during a recent storm.  Daoud Fakhri happened to be testing out a new lens for his camera by taking pictures
in Central London when he caught the scene last Saturday.  The impressive shot - which has now been
distributed by the London News Pictures agency. 

Back in business: Skiers and snowboarders on the slopes at Lecht Ski Centre in the
Cairngorms yesterday after snow levels finally allowed them to open.

'At this stage though, we are very comfortable with the civil contingencies that we have in place and the resources we have, we can manage this.'

Mr Paterson was met with hostility when he visited Somerset on Monday, with farmers, politicians and church leaders demanding immediate action to alleviate what furious residents described as ‘Third World’ conditions.

He said yesterday the county council had only asked for assistance ‘for the first time today’.

But a council spokesman said the authority had been discussing with the military for weeks the possibility of bringing in manpower, sandbags and amphibious vehicles.

John Osman, Conservative leader of Somerset County Council, said military might would give beleaguered residents the chance to repair their battered properties, with the village of Muchelney cut off since the turn of the year because of flooded roads.

He said: ‘The council had actually planned to get some amphibious vehicles in, paid for by public money, because this situation really needed to be sorted out.

'People's homes and properties have been under flood water for weeks.

‘We were due to place an order imminently, but the Government saying the military will be involved has saved the public purse that money.’

Mr Paterson's announcement about Army intervention came after Prime Minister David Cameron pledged rapid action to deal with the crisis, promising that dredging of rivers would start as soon as the present waters could be reduced to a safe level.

Pressed by local MPs Jeremy Browne and David Heath at Commons questions, Mr Cameron said more pumps would be brought in to remove water as soon as there is capacity in rivers to support it.

And he promised that departments across Whitehall, including Transport, Communities and Local Government, and the Treasury, would work together to crack the problem.

Many parts of the Levels have been flooded since Christmas and there are fears it could be many months before the water is completely pumped away.

EA teams have been running dozens of pumps 24 hours a day to drain an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of water (equivalent to 600 Olympic-sized swimming pools) off the Levels.

In Muchelney, one of the villages cut off on the Somerset Levels, residents have been trying to carry on with their lives as normally as possible, despite being stranded since Christmas.

Local resident Nigel Smith has been making use of a taxi boat operated by the fire brigade, and said the level of response was now 'terrific'.

Drainage experts blame two decades of under-investment in flood defence work for turning the Levels into a ‘disaster area’ and said it was ‘very, very urgent’ that rivers are dredged to prevent more damage to homes, livelihoods and wildlife.

The EA has come under fire from MPs and local councils, but insists that increased dredging of the rivers would not have prevented the recent flooding and was ‘often not the best long-term or economic solution’.

Flooding experts have also warned that dredging would not have helped the situation.

Hannah Cloke, a flooding expert from the University of Reading, said: ‘The Prime Minister's assertion that dredging will provide a long-term solution to flooding is just not backed up by the evidence.

‘Dredging increases the carrying capacity of river channels, helping more water to flow downstream.

‘But carrying capacity of rivers is just one small part of an area's drainage pattern and its susceptibility to flooding. Land use, topography, underlying geology, and above all, rainfall levels are also relevant.

‘Given the amount of rain that has fallen, you could have doubled the carrying capacity of every drainage channel in Somerset, at huge cost, and large parts would still have flooded.’

Mr Heath, the Liberal Democrat MP for Somerset and Frome, welcomed the Army's assistance and the promise of dredging in the future.

He told the Daily Telegraph: ‘It seems that we have a real sense of urgency now from the Government as to what we need in Somerset.’

Mr Heath said he had suggested at the weekend involving the military, adding: ‘We have the RNAS Yeovilton, the commando helicopter force, on our doorstep.

'We have got 40 Commando Royal Marines just up the road and we could certainly use, I think, Royal Engineer support as well.’

The Prime Minister's promise was welcomed by council bosses and campaign groups fighting to stop the flooding.

Mr Osman said: ‘We have lobbied hard to get national attention, we are in a major incident due to the extent and length of time that much of the county is flooded.

‘Now we have the PM behind us, people can start to believe that real action, dredging the rivers, sorting the drainage systems, protecting our communities will really happen. I am delighted to hear this.’

John Williams, leader of Taunton Deane Borough Council, also praised the move and called for any decisions to be made in partnership with local councils and agencies trying to find a long-term solution to the flooding problem.

Edwin White, chairman of the Royal Bath and West of England Society, called for water management of the Somerset Levels to be given back to local people from the EA.

He said: ‘The (EA) has failed miserably and I think the Government ought to welcome with open arms some self-help from within the community.’

Rev Jane Twitty said she and fellow Somerset residents had been using boats to get about during the flooding.

Heating fuel is running out for those who are not on mains gas and children are cold and wet when they get home, she added.

She told BBC Breakfast the community was ‘getting tired now’ and would welcome help from the military.

She said: ‘I am sure they will but there will be questions asked about why it took so long to help them.

‘I think they will be hoping they can be more flexible about times they will be coming in and out because the boat stops at 4pm.’

Mr Heath said it was ‘very welcome news that the military are going to lend a hand’.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘It is simply getting people in and out and goods.

'If they can give us a few extra pairs of hands to help the people who have been working so hard down on the Levels for the past few weeks.

‘We are expecting another high spring tide at the weekend along with a lot more rain.

‘Where there is specialist equipment I would certainly like to see the engineers see what they can do to improve access.’

Mr Paterson will chair another meeting of the Cobra committee this afternoon to discuss the flooding situation, Downing Street revealed.

Asked whether the Prime Minister felt that the Environment Agency's response to the floods had been inadequate, David Cameron's official spokesman told a Westminster media briefing: ‘A number of agencies, including the Environment Agency, have been working hard in response to the situation which communities are facing.

‘On dredging, as the Prime Minister said, that needs to be done as soon as it is safe to do so, and that will be done. And then I'm sure, as you would expect, once we have helped the communities through the immediate challenges that they face, we will across government, working with local authorities, look at what lessons can be learned.’

The spokesman denied that there was a dispute with the Environment Agency over the need for dredging once the floods abate.

‘The decision around dredging immediately, once the water levels make it safe to do so, is one that we think certainly is very important and it's one that the Environment Agency agree with.’


WATCH: No let up for flood-hit parts of Britain as more rain on the way.

Asked whether the Prime Minister had confidence in Environment Agency chairman Lord Smith, the spokesman said: ‘I think it is right that he continues to provide leadership to the Environment Agency.

‘The Environment Agency has a very important role alongside other agencies in responding to the desperate situation we see in Somerset, as well as the wider repairs and ongoing investment in other parts of the country that have suffered over the recent period.’

In Muchelney, which is one of the villages cut off on the Somerset Levels, residents have been trying to carry on with their lives as normally as possible, despite being cut off since Christmas.

Local resident Nigel Smith was making use of a taxi boat operated by the fire brigade.

‘We had the flooding, we knew what the situation would be and that was disconcerting and nobody came near us,’ Mr Smith said.

‘We've got the fire brigade here and we have got the communications backwards and forwards.

‘It's brilliant. The level of response now is terrific. The Devon and Somerset Fire Service have been marvellous.’

Mr Smith described the issue of dredging the Somerset Levels as ‘complicated’ but said if it reduced the water levels by only a couple of inches, it was worth it.

‘It's a complicated subject and I think a lot of it to do with the dredging and sending the Army in is largely a political statement to satisfy people's justifiable complaints,’ he said.

‘The dredging will help a little bit but that's all we need - a little bit. It does it every year but not normally to this extent.

‘We normally get one or two roads closed every year and occasionally every 10 years we get all four roads closed.

‘Dredging would lower the flooding by an inch or two and that's all we really need to save those people in the village that have flooded.’ - Daily Mail.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: Massive Landslide Near Durdle Door, Dorset - 100m Stretch Of Cliff Falls Into The Sea Along The United Kingdom Coastline!

May 01, 2013 - UNITED KINGDOM - A section of the South West Coast Path in Dorset has been destroyed by a massive landslip.

Portland Coastguard said the cliff fall happened overnight at St Oswald's Bay, east of Durdle Door.

The cliff fall happened overnight at St Oswald's Bay
© MCA

A coastguard spokesman said: "It is huge - a massive fall has taken out part of the cliff. It is rather extraordinary."

The path has been sealed off by council workers. People have been advised to keep clear of the affected area.

A spokesman for the Lulworth Estate which owns the land called it a "substantial" landslip.

Nick Kelly said the estate would co-operate with the county council in re-routing the coast path away from the area of the cliff fall.

He said cliffs along the Dorset coast were in a "fragile" state due to wet weather over the past 12 months, followed by recent dry conditions.

"Visitors should exercise awareness of their surroundings and pay attention to warning signs when walking near the cliffs," he added.

However the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Twitter account later posted a photograph of people still walking along the path, with the caption: "What do you think they are doing on the edge of a collapsed cliff? There's a reason we give advice."

'Unusually large'

Jurassic Coast manager Sam Rose said 20m (65ft) of the coast path had fallen away,

"The rock has fanned out on the beach so it looks rather spectacular. It is an unusually large fall for this area."

Earlier this month several landslips happened at nearby White Nothe and a section of cliff came down on Swanage beach just before Christmas.

Dr Simon Boxall of the University of Southampton described the latest landslip as "awesome" and said it was likely the fall happened "in one sudden go".

"It is a relief this didn't happen during a busy weekend. There would have been very little warning anything was going to happen.

"It's very difficult to predict where and when these landslips are going to happen," he said. - BBC.

There have ben no reported injuries after the landslide.
© MCA

Cliff walkers in Dorset have been urged to take extra caution after a big landslide close to the popular Durdle Door beach.

There are no reported injuries after a 100m stretch of cliff at St Oswald's Bay fell into the sea.

It is believed to have occurred overnight, a coastguard told Sky News.

Nick Lonsdale, duty watch manager at MRCC Portland, said: "The landslide was first reported to us at 8am. To our knowledge, no one was harmed by it, but it is too early to speculate.

"We are making arrangements to divert the coastal path that was damaged by the landslide.

"We would urge walkers to observe signs and stay away from the edge, as tempting as it might be to look over the edge."

Dorset's jurassic coastline and picturesque cliff-top paths are popular tourist attractions.

Mr Lonsdale said it was not always possible to predict when a landslide would occur, or which sections of the coast were vulnerable.

"Along the UK's entire coastline, there are sections that will crumble and fall away, sometimes without warning of any sort," he said. - SKY News.

MASS BIRD DIE-OFF: Mysterious Gel Brings Death To Hundreds Of Sea Birds Off Jurassic Coast - Experts Unable To Find Source, Takes A Fortnight To Clean Each Bird, Could Spread Along The Food Chain, "Disaster Is Going To Be Far Worse Than We Can Imagine"?!

February 08, 2013 - UNITED KINGDOM - The Razorbill did not stand a chance. Its wings were coated in a thick gloopy gel, which solidified in the cold. Its feathers lost their use as insulation, leaving the bird’s body exposed to the sub-zero temperatures and biting winds.  Washed up on the beach, it lay on the pebbles in a sorrowful heap.  Several hundred dead birds have been washed up along the south coast of England since the first were found on Wednesday morning.  On Saturday night, an RSPCA treatment centre in West Hatch, near Taunton, was caring for 254 of them. The birds, mainly guillemots and razorbills, were all tarred with the mysterious white-yellow gel. No one knew where this slick came from.  “It’s quite sinister really,” said Teresa Donohue, 22, a volunteer with a wildlife charity. “We don’t know what it is, and you can’t smell it or see it spreading.”  

Several hundred dead birds have been washed up along the south coast of England Photo: APEX.

Yesterday, Miss Donohue, who helps put identification rings on birds, was walking along Chesil Beach when she saw a guillemot stranded just above the tide line.  “You never normally see these birds sitting on the beach, but it was exhausted. I had a tea towel and put it over its head, then carried it up the beach to the RSPCA.”  John Pollock, the RSPCA inspector for West Dorset, was waiting with his van. “In 22 years working here, I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “It’s officially described as a mineral oil, but that could mean anything man made. It just makes me really angry that this could happen.  “What we are seeing is only a tiny fraction of the true damage, as the vast majority of the affected wildlife will simply die out at sea.” Dead birds have been found all along the coast from Sussex through Dorset and into Devon. Contaminated guillemots have also been found on the Isle of Wight.  The RSPCA said that hundreds had been found dead, while a further 254 were being treated. But along the coast, many sections of the beach were not being monitored, meaning that thousands of birds were likely to have died undetected.

Dead and dying birds get cleaned by Marc Smith and Angela Thomas of the Dorset Wildlife Trust
Photo: Christopher Jones for the Telegraph.

“It’s the worst possible time for this to happen,” said Derek Davey, 53, a volunteer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, as he pulled on his dry suit to wade out on the rocks below Portland Bill.  “They are on their way to the breeding grounds off the coast of Ireland and Scotland. Sometimes we have 20,000 birds a day passing through here. It’s awful.”  No one knows why. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency sent up a helicopter above the sea to see – unsuccessfully – if there was an obvious source. Many suspect that a ship in the English Channel illegally rinsed its tanks out at sea, which is cheaper than washing them in the docks.  Any ship operator caught of doing so faces a hefty fine or imprisonment.  The slick has also struck along a valuable area of Britain’s coastline. The Jurassic Coast in Dorset and Devon is famed for its starfish, burrowing anemones and rare pink fans — a type of coral — are all found in the reef off Stennis Ledges. Seals, bottlenose dolphins and basking sharks all swim in the sea. 

While Mr Davey set off to clamber among the rocks, a less experienced team was beginning to patrol the beach. “We saw it on the news, and so went out this morning to buy a net,” said Melissa Kennett, 63, patrolling the beach with her two granddaughters.  One granddaughter, Amber, nine, said: “I found the first bird. It was like a black dot and then we got closer and saw it was alive. But it splashed away. We found another two though and carried them back.”  Birds which are rescued are taken to West Hatch, where 20 full and part-time staff are working to rehydrate, clean and feed the birds.  The guillemots and razorbills are fed sprats and rubbed down with supermarket margarine to remove the sticky gunk from their bodies. The birds are then washed in warm soapy water and left to recover, before the team reintroduce the healthiest ones, little by little, to a series of ponds.  “It’s a laborious process that, at its fastest, takes a fortnight for each bird,” said Steve Powell, of the RSPCA.  Marc Smith of the Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “The damage from this goes right the way along the food chain, from the plankton to the fish to the birds, seals and dolphins. This disaster is going to be far worse than we can imagine.” - Telegraph.

MASS BIRD DIE-OFF: Mystery Deepens As Increasing Numbers Of Stricken Birds Wash Up On Dorset Coast?!

February 02, 2013 - UNITED KINGDOM - Increasing numbers of stricken birds are washing up on the south coast after being covered in a mysterious substance.  Wildlife experts are no closer to discovering the cause of the environmental damage, which has seen more than 100 seabirds taken into care at the RSPCA West Hatch wildlife centre in Taunton, Somerset, since yesterday.  Most of the birds, guillemots, were found at Chesil Beach, near Portland in Dorset. One bird was found alive as far as Worthing in west Sussex, and is now being cared for at a veterinary surgery.

© The Independent, UK.

Another, found in the Isle of Wight, is now at a local animal rescue centre.  Around 200 miles of the English coastline is being investigated. The Environment Agency has taken samples of the water for testing.  RSPCA deputy chief inspector John Pollock, who has been leading the rescue mission in Dorset, said: "We just do not know what this substance is.  "It is white, odourless and globular, like a silicone sealer. The best way I can think to describe it is 'sticky Vaseline'.  "The numbers of the birds coming in have been growing and sadly there were quite a few dead birds this morning."  "We are still down at the beach, though, collecting and trying to save as many of them as we can. We are expecting this rescue mission to continue through the weekend."  The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is waiting to hear from the Environment Agency later today in order to discover the possible cause of the pollution. 

A spokesman said: "The MCA is regularly called upon to react to a wide range of maritime incidents and to develop a comprehensive response procedure to deal with any emergency at sea that causes pollution or threatens to cause pollution.  "This occurrence of seabirds being washed up on south coast beaches contaminated with a product is rare. We are working with partner organisations and agencies to deal with this event.  "The Environment Agency has taken samples of the product and is currently analysing it to identify it.  "The RSPCA and RSPB are collecting data and the contaminated birds are being cleaned at the RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre in Somerset.  "We will continue to monitor this situation and await the results of the analysis of the product."  An RSPCA spokesman said they were pleased with the public's willingness to help the stricken birds, but warned of the dangers involved.  The spokesman said: "We would urge people to be cautious going down to the coastline affected.  "The instinctive reaction is to go down and look, or to help out. But we don't know what this substance is, so our message is for people - especially those taking dogs down to the coastline - to please be careful." - The Independent.

MASS BIRD DIE-OFF: Hundreds Of Birds Washed-Up On South Coast Of Portland, Dorset And Cornwall, UK - Birds Were Covered With Unknown And Mysterious "Creamy, Waxy Substance"?!

January 31, 2013 - UNITED KINGDOM - Hundreds of birds have been washed-up along the south coast, covered in an unidentified "creamy, waxy substance".  The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the guillemots, a kind of auk, were discovered on Lyme Bay near Weymouth, the coast of of Portland in Dorset, and in Cornwall. 

A rescue worker with one of the guillemots (Dorset Wildlife Trust).

Many of them have been taken to West Hatch Animal Centre in Taunton, but attempts to clean them have been hampered by not knowing what the substance is, said RSPB official Grahame Madge.  "At the moment, the best guess is there are around 100 birds ashore, and there are concerns the birds are affected in as widespread a region as from Cornwall to Sussex," he explained.  "So we could be dealing with quite a large incident as all these birds could be proved to come from the same pollution incident.  "We are urging the Government to identify the source of the pollution and the pollutant."  Peter Venn, the manager of the RSPCA in West Hatch, Somerset, said: "The numbers of birds arriving in to our centre are growing and we are doing all we can to help them - but it is too early to tell how successful these attempts will be.  "We do not know what this substance is or where it has come from yet, but we do know it is not fuel.

The seabirds are covered in a white, waxy substance.

The birds have been discovered along the south coast.

 "It may be byproduct from manufacture, but at this stage we just do not know.  "We would urge anyone who finds any of these birds to contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.  "There are also reports of the sticky substance washing up on the beach, so we would urge people walking their dogs in the area to also be careful."  A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "We have received reports of seabirds being washed ashore covered in a white, waxy substance, from Cornwall to Portland, Dorset."  Dorset County Council warned members of the public about handling distressed birds on the south coast.  "While the substance is being identified, agencies are urging people to avoid coming into contact with the birds and to keep pets away from the shoreline," a spokesman said. - SKY News.

THE GREAT DELUGE: Downpours Make 2012 England's Wettest Year On Record!

December 28, 2012 - ENGLAND - The year started with hose pipe bans and warnings of drought. It has ended as the wettest in England since records began. The Met Office said yesterday that at 1,095.8 millimetres the average rainfall across England in 2012 had already breached the previous high of 1,093mm in 2000.  With a further deluge expected over the final few days, it is also likely 2012 will be the third wettest in the UK as a whole since records began in 1910, and it still could be the wettest. 

St Denys' Church suffers from flooding in the village of Severn Stoke near Worcester. Flood warnings for major rivers could hit new year travel plans. © Christopher Furlong /GETTY.

The figures came as more flood warnings were issued for the New Year period by the Environment Agency, with major rivers such as the Severn and Thames set to peak in some areas.  London's flood defence system was activated for the first time since 2010. The Agency said it closed the Thames Barrier to prevent water flowing downstream from further up the River Thames, which has been deluged by rain for a week. More than 200 flood warnings and alerts are still in force, mainly in the Midlands, East Anglia and the south, for the next three days - 21 of which are for Wales in the next 24 hours. The ground is so saturated that even a slight rain will be enough to trigger floods, the agency said.  Heavy gales are also expected to add to the misery in the western half of the country. Travellers are being warned that train services are expected to face delays, particularly in the south east. 

In Dorset, a flash of lightning is thought to be responsible for two fires which destroyed a school and a derelict hotel in Dorset. More than 55 fire fighters from three counties were called to Lytchett Minster Upper School, near Poole, which caught fire minutes after the roof of the Cliff End Hotel in Boscombe, Bournemouth, went up in flames just after 7am.  Six of the 10 wettest years in the UK have now occurred since 1998. The wettest on record is 2000 when 1,337.3mm of rain fell. It is followed by 1954 and then 2008, with 1,295mm. This year's average UK-wide rainfall is 1,291mm, with much more than another four millimetres likely.  A Met Office spokesman said there was a chance that it could be the UK's wettest year, although there would need to be an average of 46mm across Britain between now and 1 January.  "It is unlikely because that would have to be across the whole of Britain," he said. "But I wouldn't rule it out."  He added that it was impossible to say whether the spate of wet years was due to climate change. "Britain is a wet country," he said. "There will always be dry spells and wet spells. This year's wet weather has been due to a buckled jet stream. Normally it is straight and pushes wet weather systems far to the north. It hasn't done that this year." - The Independent.

DELUGE: Forecasters Predict Savage Weekend For Britain With Further Rainfall Set to Hit Saturated Towns and Villages Causing More Flooding - Mass Evacuations, Over 50 Flood Warnings!

December 21, 2012 - UNITED KINGDOM - Britain was bracing itself for more flooding tonight after up to three inches of rain fell over the past two days - with more forecast for the weekend.  More than 80 households were ordered to be evacuated after cracks were discovered in flood defences protecting the Hampshire village of Wallington, where a severe flood warning was issued earlier today.  Over 50 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts are currently in place across England and Wales, with large areas of southern and south-western England, south-east Wales, the Midlands and the north-east all under threat.

Making waves: Vehicles drive through floodwater this morning on a road in Southampton, Hampshire.

 Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, West and East Sussex, south east Wales, Northamptonshire and North Yorkshire were particularly at risk, the Environment Agency said.  River levels on the River Cober in Helston, Cornwall, are high after persistent rain yesterday, while the Dolphins River Park in Charmouth, west Dorset, is under threat from the River Char.  The River Wey in Weymouth, Dorset, was also rising, and the Somerset Levels face risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall of up to 20mm over last night on already saturated ground.  Flood defences were put up today in the riverside town of Bewdley in Worcestershire, on the banks of the Severn, and at Upton-upon-Severn existing flood barriers were being monitored as the river rose steadily.  Further defences were set to go up in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.  In Wallington coaches were at the ready to evacuate residents while a severe flood warning remained in place, but only three villagers decided to leave, Fareham Borough Council said.  The Environment Agency said the flood warning was scaled back after a consignment of massive sandbags was used to shore up the cracked river wall, and added that the highest tide had passed without incident.  Around 50 houses in the village have deployed flood defences, given to the houses most at risk as part of a government grant 18 months ago.  Claire Nash, 40, who has lived in one of those houses for four years, said: ‘Our rear defence is not working properly and some water is coming in.'  ‘It is very scary - we have moved the Christmas tree and presents upstairs. Our garden is so long that we never thought the water would get so high - we thought we would be safe.’  Scott Mills, a coastal engineer, was monitoring the effectiveness of the defences which they helped install.  He said: ‘The main concern is that the flow is very high in comparison to normal and we still have a relatively low tide - we’ll need to keep monitoring it closely.’  Two cars became submerged in floodwater towards the north end of the village. 

Jon King, 26, a Wallington resident, said: ‘It hasn’t stopped raining since yesterday, it has never been this bad. It is not the first time this has happened but it’s definitely the worst I’ve ever seen.’  Wallington last experienced floods to this extent in 2000 - a footbridge caused flooding to housing when it became caught up with debris. It has since been raised and water was passing 1ft below.  Preparations were put in place for scores of homes to be evacuated, but only three people - including one vulnerable person - actually left, Fareham Borough Council said.  Structural engineers from the council and the Environment Agency have inspected the flood wall that has three cracks in it.  But EA operations manager David Robinson explained that the main concern was the high tide meeting the rain water after more than 20mm fell in the area overnight.  The atmosphere was relaxed in Wallington earlier today despite the threat with the local pub, the Cob & Pen doing a roaring trade. Residents in the village were taking the warnings in their stride.  Alan Humphrey, who has lived in his house for 26 years, said he had been flooded only once - in 2000.  Speaking from behind a flood barrier protecting his doorway, Mr Humphrey said: ‘We are in control. We have a bit of water in the back garden but we're not worried about that.  ‘It's just a question of whether the wall holds. If it gives there will be quite a few feet of water coming down the street. In 2000 we were flooded and now we have these flood defences and they are effective. I'm not panicking - it's only water.’  The showers are expected to ease off today, with dry spells across much of the country.  But the rain will return from tomorrow, and with the ground already saturated, the risk of flooding remains high. Another inch of rain is forecast for tonight. By 5pm yesterday, after successive bands of heavy rain had drenched the nation, 21 properties had been flooded across the South. There was also some surface flooding in the South West, which bore the brunt of yesterday’s downpours.  In Emsworth, Hampshire, three bungalows were swamped by 9ft of water after a river burst its banks. Two, including the one belonging to Gordon and Margaret Coleman, were left uninhabitable.  Mr Coleman, 70, said: ‘It has ruined Christmas for us – we have no power, electric, phone or heating.’  By last night, the The Environment Agency said that its flood defences had helped protect more than 10,000 homes so far.  A spokesman said: ‘Our teams are out around the clock to minimise the risks and prepare for flooding, clearing drainage channels and ensuring that flood defences are working properly.’  Motorists were warned not to use flooded roads and an AA spokesman said it had attended 327 breakdowns after cars drove through or got stuck in floodwater.  Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers said up to three inches of rain had fallen in the South West in the past 48 hours, while the rest of the country had had up to two inches. - Daily Mail.

WATCH: Flooding causes havoc in Hampshire.