Now flood-hit homes are targeted by THIEVES who steal fuel and quad bikes as South West is battered by huge storm and swathes of Britain remain underwater

Properties devastated by floods are now under threat from thieves, some of them using boats, police said today



EA chair Lord Smith says: ' Flood defences cost money - and we need to make difficult but sensible choices '

More wind and rain threaten more chaos for waterlogged communities after 180 homes were flooded this weekend

Woman dies after being swept out to sea by strong currents at mouth of River Arun at Littlehampton Pier, Sussex

More than 50 mountain rescuers battle atrocious weather during eight-hour rescue in Cambrian Mountains, Wales



Coastguards brave rough seas off Aberdeenshire coast in Scotland during hunt for missing angler this morning



Met Office issues severe weather warnings of 80mph winds and heavy rain for South from tomorrow to Wednesday

Two people are rescued from floodwater after their boat capsizes in Chaceley, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

Group of French fishermen are rescued after their boat is damaged in rough seas off the North Cornwall coast

Scientists find dirty floodwaters in Somerset contain high levels of bacteria which could be danger to public health




Thieves - some of them travelling by boat - are now targeting the homes of flood victims on the Somerset Levels, police said today.

One farmer said he had had around 600 gallons of domestic heating oil stolen from his farm in Moorland, near Bridgwater, on Friday night, and others told police of suspicious people and vehicles in the area, some of them on the water.

Two fire service quad bikes were taken from Burrowbridge on the same night, prompting the national police air service (NPAS) to fly a helicopter over flood-hit properties as a 'proactive crime prevention exercise'.

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Unrelenting waves lashed Kingswear Castle at the entrance to Dartmouth harbour in Devon today as the foul weather continued unabated - in Somerset police said thieves were targetting flood-hit properties

Residents of Newlyn, near Penzance, awoke to see this huge hole caused by waves undermining the sea wall The river Thames has broken its banks at Walton on Thames in Surrey, where swans were photographed swimming down the town's residential streets Forecast: Rain is expected to continue to fall on the west country for the next three days at least, while much of the rest of the country will have a break from it tomorrow, before the UK is soaked again on Wednesday

Police horses have also been deployed and officers will make regular patrols for a 'high-visibility presence' and to reassure residents.

Chief Superintendent Caroline Peters, of Avon and Somerset Police, who is heading the response to the floods major incident, said: 'We are aware of reports in the community of suspicious people and vehicles being seen in the area, particularly after dark.

'We have also heard rumours of people being out in boats at night'.

News of the thefts came as the chairman of the Environment Agency warned that Britain would have to choose whether it wants to save 'town or country' from future flooding because 'there is no bottomless purse' to defend both.



Lord Smith of Finsbury warned that 'difficult choices' would have to be made over what parts of the UK should have protection as hundreds of homes and vast swathes of land remain under water.



It came as Britons have been warned to brace themselves as further wind and rain threatened to bring more chaos to waterlogged communities across the country, with Atlantic storms set to last for at least another month.



Around 180 new homes have been flooded over the weekend and some 1.5million tonnes of water has been pumped off the Somerset Levels daily in an around-the-clock bid to halt residents' five-week flooding hell.

Disarray: A father holds his child as heavy flooding hit the Cornish fishing village of Flushing as high tide hit today

Lord Smith told the Daily Telegraph: 'Yes, agricultural land matters and we do whatever we can with what we have to make sure it is protected. Rules from successive governments give the highest priority to lives and homes; and I think most people would agree that this is the right approach.

THIEVES ROB POOR FLOOD VICTIMS

Police have said thieves are stealing dwindling supplies from distraught flood victims forced to leave their properties.

Evacuated homes in the Somerset Levels have been plundered by gangs in boats leaving police powerless to give chase across fields which have become huge lakes.

Even emergency teams working round the clock to help drenched residents facing their fifth week underwater have had rescue quad bikes stolen.

Farmer James Winslade (above) - whose entire 790-acre farm is under water - has been left without heating or hot water after thieves siphoned 600 gallons of oil from his tank. It also broke his heating system. He said: 'I've got a wife and four-year-old twins and a nine-year-old. We've still got firewood so we've lit fires, but the water is rising fast now and even the barn that was dry now has water in it.'

Avon Chief Supt Caroline Peters said: 'We are aware of reports in the community of suspicious people and vehicles being seen in the area, particularly after dark.

'We have also heard rumours of people being out in boats at night.

'I would ask everyone to be alert, to look out for your neighbours, and to call us at any time if we are needed.'

'But this involves tricky issues of policy and priority; town or country, front rooms or farmland?



'Flood defences cost money; and how much should the taxpayer be prepared to spend on different places, communities and livelihoods - in Somerset, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, or East Anglia? There's no bottomless purse, and we need to make difficult but sensible choices about where and what we try to protect.'

His warning came as it emerged victims of the flooding are having to pay up to 41p a minute to call a government helpline for advice.



All money from the 0845 premium-rate number, which was set up by the Environment Agency (EA), went to a private firm.

Bryony Sadler, a member of Somerset's Flooding on the Levels Action Group, told The Sun: 'It is shocking that hard-pressed flood victims are being charged for this.



'We are extremely grateful to the Environment Agency's people on the ground, who are doing their best to help us.



'But this is just another example of staggering mismanagement from their pen-pushing bosses'.

Another victim said: 'These people are victims of some of the worst flooding this country has ever seen and are struggling to pay their bills.

'Yet when they need help, they have to pay again. It is disgusting and should be changed to a free number immediately.'

Meanwhile a woman died last night after being swept out to sea by strong currents at the mouth of the River Arun at Littlehampton Pier in West Sussex.

Police, coastguards and lifeboat volunteers pulled out the woman, 67, from Goring-by-Sea, and took her to Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital.

In Wales, more than 50 mountain rescuers had to battle atrocious weather conditions during an eight-hour rescue in the Cambrian Mountains.

And in Scotland, coastguards have braved the rough seas on the Aberdeenshire coast in the hunt for a missing angler who vanished early this morning.

But as flood-hit communities enjoyed a break in the bad weather on Sunday, forecasters warned there may be worse to come.

The EA warned the whole of the south of England will be at an ‘increased risk’ of flooding within the next 24 hours.

The agency forecasted that as high tides and large waves threaten the south coast, further rain on already saturated ground could lead to river flooding.

Flood risk manager Kate Marks said the EA is 'likely to issue further warnings' with more severe weather conditions expected in the coming days.

Damaging: A van piles through flood waters in Penryn, Cornwall, as many communities continue to struggle because of months of terrible storms

This bus has become stuck in between a flooded field and the road it was travelling on in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, west Wales

Flooding on the Thames Path: The Thames Barrier at Woolwich in South-East London is closed as part of flood defence strategies

Three people are n rescued from their vehicles this morning after getting stuck in 3ft of floodwater near Ingatestone, in Essex The owners of this car did not realise how deep the floodwater was and got stuck in Ingatestone, Essex During this rescue a brand new Ford Kuga got stuck when the driver was going from Thurrock to Harold Wood She added: 'People should check their flood risk and get early warnings so they can take action to protect their property.’

Since early December, the UK has been hit by ‘extraordinary’ weather and flooding. Those bearing the brunt of the storms have been in the South.

And residents in Somerset are now bracing themselves for a sixth consecutive week of flooding, with the village of Muchelney only accessible by boat. Those living near Moorlands and Burrowbridge have anxiously been keeping an eye on water levels. Among them is 35-year-old Gavin Sadler. The smallholder, who is in campaign group Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG), said: ‘I've been looking out at where my garden used to be. 'I can now see a lake instead. There's only been a slight drop in water levels, but with more rain there's growing concern about the situation.' The bus which is partially lodged in a flooded field with its back wheels resting on the road in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, Wales Ten people have been rescued after the bus they were on was hit by a wave in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, yesterday evening Wider view: A bus is submerged in water after heavy rain and severe flooding in Newgale, West Wales Crash: Stormy seas at Porthleven in Cornwall, as the waves pound into the cliffs under Tye Rock Manor The father of two added: ‘We were in the same boat last year and were told it was a one in a 100-year flood - now it's happened again.’ Locals have also been on edge following the discovery by microbiologist that flood waters contained more than 60 times the safe level of bacteria. Two specialist all-terrain vehicles have been sent to the county along with extra pumping equipment. While the number of severe flood warnings decreased from nine to three over the weekend, 95 flood warnings and 242 flood alerts remained in place.

But with further rain expected after the wettest January on record in some places, saturated ground and high river levels could lead to further flooding.

Officials say fresh flooding could affect the south coasts of Devon and Cornwall tomorrow as well as Somerset, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Up in the air: The weather is set to cause more misery for Britons - but it's not stopping surfer Adam Lewis making the most of the tidal surge in Cornwall Surf's up: People attempt to ride the Severn Bore - one of Britain's few truly spectacular natural phenomena Surfers attempt to ride on a rare maximum five star Severn Bore viewed from Newnham overlooking the River Severn The Severn Bore is a large surge wave that can be seen in the estuary of the River Severn, where the tidal range is the second highest in the world Cut off: The Muchelney humanitarian support boat operated by a crew from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service arrives in the Somerset village Splash: Waves break over the iconic clock tower in Porthleven on the south coast of Cornwall Defence strategy: The Thames Barrier at Woolwich in South-East London is closed Devastated area: The sun sets over flooded fields surrounding the River Tone that has burst its banks on the Somerset Levels, viewed from Stoke-St-Gregory Not moving: Residents of The Little Venice Caravan Park are once again hit by severe flooding after the River Medway burst its banks on Saturday in Yalding, Kent The River Severn in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, and the Frome and Avon in Dorset are of concern this week. There are also fears for the river Thames and its tributaries in Oxfordshire, West Berkshire, Reading, Slough and Hampshire and the Medway in Kent. The EA said just 6in of fast-flowing floodwater was enough to knock someone off their feet and a mere cup-full can damage a vehicle's engine. In Newgale, west Wales, 10 people had to be plucked from a bus in the dark after it got stuck on the seafront. Coastguards said the vehicle had been hit by a large wave before being surrounded by flood water. Another dramatic rescue in Wales took place yesterday when a group of students got lost while attempting to tackle the 752-metre Pumlumon mountain.

The wreck of a trawler which sank near Newquay in Cornwall overnight after storms hit the coastline Vehicles make their way to help with the recovery efforts at flood hit Muchelney in Langport in Somerset Vehicles are delivered to help with the recovery efforts in Muchelney, Langport, which has been hit with flooding With high tides, combined with gale force winds and further heavy rain, some parts of the UK are bracing themselves for more flooding this week Running away: A woman flees large waves crashing against Swanage promenade in Dorset Brecon Mountain Rescue Team incident manager Dave Coombs said: ‘The weather conditions were atrocious, with gales, sleet and driving rain. '(They were) too severe for search and rescue helicopters to assist. The students were lucky that the combined rescue teams found them when they did.

'The conditions were atrocious and it could have been much less of a happy ending had they had been on the mountain much longer.’ Six French fishermen off the coast of Cornwall also managed a lucky escape after their boat was hit by a giant wave. Helicopter crews had to winch five of the men from crew from the sea, while the sixth was rescued by lifeboat. North of the border, fears are growing for the safety of a missing fisherman who went missing on the Aberdeenshire coast early this morning. Flood water and debris is seen in front of a house near Muchelney, near Langport in Somerset People walk with a dog on the banks of the flooded River Arun near Amberley A flock of birds fly near a barn surrounded by flood water from the River Arun Flood warnings have been issued to some areas in southern England as heavy rain is forecast Troubled: The village of Yalding in Kent, which has been flooded for the second time in 2014 The man was night fishing at Tangle-Ha, north of St Cyrus, when he disappeared from rocks in what were described as ‘exceedingly rough’ conditions. A spokesman for the coastguard said: ‘We have completed our search and nothing has been found.’ Millions of gallons are being pumped away every day from the Somerset Levels - but for those living nearby, the anguish is far from over. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has promised that 'everything possible is being done' but residents want overflowing rivers to be dredged. Forecasters are predicting a break in the bad weather today but experts at the Met Office have issued severe weather warnings of winds of up to 80mph. It also warned of heavy rain of up to 30mm (1.2in) for the South West, South, South Wales and Northern Ireland from tomorrow until Wednesday. A Hampshire Police car had to be rescued from floodwaters in Derritt Lane near Bransgore today after stalling on the flooded road Boys in blue left red faced: The Skoda had to be pushed out by staff from Wessex Fire Rescue Extreme sport: Surfer Chris Murray hits the waves in Daymar Bay as windsurfers enjoy the giant waves caused by strong winds in Cornwall Warning: The Environment Agency has issued severe flood warnings around the UK Significant disruption is predicted for much of the coast of Wales. The South-West and parts of south-east England, the North-West and the Yorkshire and Hull coastline will also be affected by wind, rain and high tides. Terrified passengers were rescued after the bus they were on was engulfed by a huge wave as it tried to get through a road closed in the storms. The single-decker was swept off the road by the 20ft wave and came to a standstill with the driver and 13 passengers trapped inside. Coastguards said the road had been closed because of the storms but the driver ignored diversion signs and tried to get through. Eye-witnesses said waves were crashing over the roof of the stricken 52-seater in the village in Newgale, Pembrokeshire, West Wales. Destructive: Overnight storms carve out a huge hole on a section of seafront at Towan Beach in Newquay, Cornwall Storms battered the Newquay coastline in Cornwall carving a huge hole in this section of seafront at Towan Beach Powerful: A huge section of this cliff near Newquay in Cornwall collapsed last night into the sea following severe weekend storms Hitting hard: Waves crash up against the sea defences at Aberystwyth during high tide and high winds Deserted seafront: Another view of waves crashing up against the sea defences at Aberystwyth during high tide in Wales One villager said: 'It was like a scene from a disaster movie - it was high tide and the wind was howling at 50mph. 'The people on the bus must have been scared stiff when the wave hit the side of the vehicle. 'The road has been closed to traffic because of the storms so no one is really sure what the bus was doing there in the first place.' A major rescue operation was launched with coastguards, an RAF rescue helicopter, police and ambulance sent to the scene at 7.15pm yesterday night. The 14 people on board were led to safety by coastguards and fireman as waves continued to batter the bus. The front of the bus was partly submerged today and damage it took from the waves could be seen. The casualties were 'badly shaken' but uninjured. Waves crash into Ilfracombe Harbour at high tide in Devon as the UK prepares itself for more bad weather Waves crash into Ilfracombe Harbour at high tide in Devon as more bad weather heads towards the UK Looking: Residents of Burrowbridge watch as the hide tide starts to breach the banks of the River Parrett. Flood water continues to rise on the Somerset Levels The bus was on its way from Haverfordwest to St Davids at 7.15pm on Saturday night when it arrived in Newgale during the height of the storm. The road through the surfing village of Newgale runs between the beach and a large campsite popular with surfers in the summer. But the 15ft sea wall made of pebbles was breached by violent waves on Friday night and traffic was being diverted away from the coast road. It is believed the council were still on the scene after setting up the diversion before high tide and had had told the driver not to go through. Derek Reynolds, 27, a regular at a local pub in the village said: 'The bus was hit by a massive wave and swept off the road and into the camp site. 'It must have been quite scary for those on board.' Dyfed-Powys Police yesterday confirmed they were speaking to the driver who worked for Richards Brothers coaches in Cardigan.

No one was available for comment from the bus company today. Enthusiastic photographers are on the cobb wall at Lyme Regis in Dorset for the biggest high-tide for many years this morning A photographer stands on the cobb wall at Lyme Regis (left) while a huge section of this cliff wall collapsed into the sea (right) Having fun: Children play in flood water blocking the main A361 at Burrow Bridge on February 2, 2014 near Langport in Somerset More bad weather on the way: The sun sets over flooded fields surrounding Burrow Mump on the Somerset Levels at Burrow Bridge As it goes down: The sun sets over flooded fields surrounding the River Tone that has burst its banks in Somerset, viewed from Windmill Hill, in Stoke-St-Gregory Another dramatic rescue saw eight horses pulled from flooded fields close to the River Chelmer, Chelmsford, Essex. The RSPCA said its inspectors rounded up five of the animals, before a specialist water rescue team were deployed to save the remaining three which had been cut off by the waters. Inspector Nicky Thorne said the six-strong RSPCA team donned dry suits and waded into the flood water to carefully round up the horses using rope lines. He said: 'The team worked very carefully and slowly to move the horses. In one place the horses had to go through a ditch where the water was deeper. 'They had to swim a few steps but despite being a bit wet they were none the worse for their experience.' Firefighters in Essex warned motorists not to try and get through flood water after seven people including three pensioners had to be rescued from vehicles stranded in their cars - one in Watery Lane, Ulting. A spokesman said: 'Six inches of water is enough to get inside car or cause the engine to stall. And two feet is deep enough to float a vehicle.' Two people were rescued from deep floodwater after their boat capsized and in Chaceley, near Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, yesterday. The pair had been with a third person who swam to the flooded Yew Tree Inn at Chaceley to raise the alarm after their boat turned over. Stormy: Waves hit the coast of Porthcawl, Wales, this morning after a night of heavy storms A photographer captures the waves crashing against Porthcawl in Wales this morning

No let up: Flooding in the village of Yalding, Kent, which has been submerged with flood water Unusual: Surfers wait to attempt to ride a rare maximum five star Severn Bore at the Severn Bore Inn besides the River Severn in Gloucestershire Walking along: Waves crash up against the sea defences at Aberystwyth during high tide and high winds Gloucestershire fire and rescue service, the Coastguard, the Severn Area Rescue Service and the Great Western Ambulance service mounted a joint operation using boats, hovercraft and a helicopter to locate ad save the stranded pair. A group of fishermen had to be rescued after their boat was damaged in rough seas off the north Cornwall coast. Falmouth Coastguard said it was first contacted about the French fishing boat Le Sillon just before 4pm yesterday. They reported the boat, carrying six men, had been hit by a number of large waves and it was drifting approximately five miles off Trevose Head after losing power and steering. The wind at the time was gusting up to 60mph. The RNLI all-weather lifeboat from Padstow, along with the search and rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, was sent to the scene. Five of the crew were picked up by the Royal Navy helicopter and the other crew member was recovered by the lifeboat. There are no reported injuries.

Brave: A cyclist on a flooded cycle path by the River Avon and Cumberland Road didn't let flooding put him off getting on his bike Large waves caused by high winds and spring tides batter the coastal town of Lahinch in Co Clare, Ireland Motoring on: A car drives through a flooded road next to the River Thames in Chertsey, Surrey Tricky conditions: A cyclist rides drives through a flooded road next to the River Thames in Chertsey, Surrey Martin Bidmead, watch manager at Falmouth Coastguard, said conditions had been 'treacherous with gale force winds, high tides and heavy rain'. He added: 'Our advice is simple, please don't take risks. But if you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.' Flood-hit residents in Somerset now have the support of two specialist vehicles to transport people and vital supplies. The two BV206s arrived in the area today and have been authorised by bosses at the county council. Officials say the Swedish-made all-terrain vehicles will be able to access flooded areas where the water is too deep for a traditional 4x4 but too shallow for a boat. Both BV206s will be able to transport passengers whilst one will assist in carrying supplies, such as fuel, wood and animal feed. Somerset County Council leader John Osman said the vehicles will undergo checks before they come into service tomorrow. 'We have a range of equipment that should let us get help and support to the most difficult of locations,' he added. 'All agencies, including voluntary agencies such as Wessex 4x4, are working hand-in-hand, monitoring the situation closely and responding together. We are all hoping that life for these communities returns to normal as soon as possible.'

Surfers took a more lighthearted approach to the weather and decided to swap their cars for boards to get around Bude in north Cornwall

The water levels have risen so high in Bude, Cornwall, that some residents decided to seize the opportunity to kayak and surf

About 25 square miles of the Somerset Levels have been swamped by the worst flooding in the area for 20 years

Spectacular: The river's course takes it past Avonmouth where it is approximately five miles wide

Mr Osman added the army-style vehicles - owned by Staffordshire firm Leavesley International - will become 'more involved' when other forms of transport, such as the current boat service, become unfeasible.

Leavesley International's group director James Leavesley said the specialist vehicles were capable of operating in extreme conditions.

SCIENTISTS WARN CONTAMINATED FLOODWATERS COULD BE A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH Yesterday, scientists found that dirty floodwaters contained high levels of bacteria, which officials warned could be a danger to public health.

The tests, by microbiologists from the University of Reading on waters in Moorlands, Somerset, found 60,000 to 70,000 bacteria per 100 millilitres.

According to the World Health Organisation agricultural water should have no more than 1,000 bacteria per 100 millilitres.

Microbiologist Nathaniel Storey, who carried out the research, said the results were unsurprising given the extent of the flooding and predicted it would take two or three months for bacteria levels to drop significantly.

Debbie Stark, a consultant with Public Health England's Devon, Cornwall and Somerset Centre, said: 'It is unsurprising that samples of flood water have demonstrated the presence of bacteria normally found outside.

'This should not be compared to bathing or drinking water. Tap water is unaffected.'

'The Hagglund BV206 is a rubber-tracked vehicle designed for various Armed Forces with an emphasis on 'go anywhere' engineering,' he added.

Ian Liddell-Grainger, Conservative MP for Bridgwater in Somerset, hit out at the Environment Agency for what he described as its failure to carry out dredging and called on the Government to hand over money that would bring a reprieve to beleaguered communities.

He said: 'They (the Environment Agency) need to dredge these rivers, stop spending money - £31million - on bird sanctuaries and spend £5million, that's all we want, to sort this out.'

Elsewhere, 10 people had to be rescued after a bus was hit by a large wave in west Wales yesterday.

Milford Haven Coastguard was contacted just after 7pm with reports the bus was stuck on the seafront, having been hit by a large wave and was surrounded by water near Newgale.

In Limerick in the Republic of Ireland, dozens of people had to be rescued from their homes after the River Shannon burst its banks.

The Severn Bore took place this weekend and waves were rated four and five star - the highest category - attracting surfers and canoiests wanting to ride the tide upriver from Newnham to Gloucester.

The Severn Bore is one of Britain's few truly spectacular natural phenomena.

It is a large surge wave that can be seen in the estuary of the River Severn, where the tidal range is the second highest in the world.

The shape of the Severn estuary is such that the water is funnelled into an increasingly narrow channel as the tide rises, thus forming the large wave.

The river's course takes it past Avonmouth where it is approximately five miles wide, then past Beachley and Aust, then Lydney and Sharpness where it is approximately one mile wide.

By the time the river reaches Minsterworth it is less than a hundred yards across, maintaining this width all the way to Gloucester.

Many acres of low lying land near the Severn which were just beginning to dry out after the extensive flooding last month were again underwater as a result of the high tides and rain.

Several roads around the Sandhurst and Quedgeley areas of Gloucester were closed by flooding, as were roads around Gloucestershire's flood hot spot Tewkesbury.

Shadow environment secretary Maria Eagle questioned the silence of the main water companies following the catastrophic floods, which have affected large parts of the south-west of England and Wales.

A couple stand looking at the waves crashing against a wall at Towan Beach in Cornwall at high tide Residents have been out in force this morning clearing up the mess and devastation after the sea engulfed Mawgan Porth in Cornwall