Broads braced for storm tide floods

Severe flood warnings were in place across the Broads last night as a combination of strong north-westerly winds, low air pressure and high tides triggered a 10ft storm surge in the North Sea.

The Yare and Waveney, along with their broads, were expected to bear the brunt of flooding, with this morning's high tides sending salt water upstream.

Flood watches were also in place along the Thurne system, whose northern broads are among the most at risk from the sea, with budget cuts meaning maintenance of coastal defences is being scaled back.

The Environment Agency said there were "extreme risks to life and property" from Great Yarmouth to Lowestoft and along the coasts of Essex and Kent.

Thousands were being evacuated from their homes along the Suffolk coast, with many spending the night at leisure centres in Lowestoft and Leiston, and Beccles Town Hall.

Experts said improved sea defences, weather forecasting and communications would avert a repeat of the 1953 floods, where hundreds died in what was dubbed Britain's worst natural disaster.

But thousands of low-lying homes were feared to be at risk, as emergency services across eastern England prepared to deal with the aftermath.

Chilling scenario - see graphics and commentary on the BBC website.

Flooding will become common - claim

Floods like those which have devastated parts of the Midlands, Thames Valley, Yorkshire and Humberside over the last two weeks will become more common, claims a hard-hitting newspaper report.

"Climate scientists predict that by the end of the century storms like those that have swept across England this summer will hit Britain far more frequently," the Daily Telegraph reports.

"National average rainfall will increase by around 20 per cent, and much of that will fall in extreme, torrential downpours bringing a month's worth of rain in a single day."

Click here to read it in full.

Fears for coarse fish caught in floods

Rivers burst their banks leaving the centre of Sheffield under feet of water, while whole villages were evacuated as it was feared the dam holding back a 35-acre reservoir on the outskirts of the city was about to collapse.

People are returning home tonight after a deluge which left three dead and caused hundreds of millions of pounds in damage.

Petrol stations, factories and sewers were flooded, leaving anglers fearful for the consequences on rivers and canals which were among some of the most -improved in Britain as receding waters wash all kinds of chemicals back into waterways.

Click here for more on the flooding chaos.