Rescue services at 'full stretch'

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Gloucestershire has been badly affected by heavy rain, with the fire and rescue service working at "full stretch".

The service received more than 200 calls in one hour, and many roads are closed, including the M50 westbound from the M5 to J1.

The M5 between J12 and 11 is also badly congested.

The worst affected areas are across Gloucester, Cheltenham and the North Cotswolds. The service has asked for help from other fire brigades.

Evacuation centre

All trains from Gloucester Railway Station have been cancelled. Nearly 450 people had to be moved from the nearby GL1 leisure centre.

Two hundred motorists are stranded at the Hobnails public house in Ashchurch.

A Gloucestershire County Council spokeswoman said there was major disruption on the roads and were advising people not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

"As drains are overflowing we are reminding people that contaminated water poses a health risk and to avoid contact where possible," she added.

This car struggled in Gloucester. Picture by Richard Fowler

Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service reported its highest ever level of emergency calls and is asking people to only call the emergency services if there is a life-threatening situation.

About 75 houses have been flooded in the Longlevens area in Gloucester - the same area was badly affected by flooding in June.

The Environment Agency identified Longlevens as being at risk from flooding, as are Cheltenham, Prestbury, Bishops Cleeve, Winchcombe, Dursley and Stroud.

Several schools have been closed and the emergency services have sandbagged the brook in Longlevens.

"We are receiving calls from people trapped in cars in flood water," said a fire service spokesperson.

In the Cotswolds 35 people are being put up for the night at the Fire Service College at Moreton-in Marsh including nine residents from a home for the elderly.

The swimming pool at the Cotswold Leisure centre in Cirencester is closed until further notice after a flood in the plant room.

The Military Search & Rescue at RAF Kinloss in Morayshire has confirmed it had been asked by Gloucestershire Police to help out with the chaos caused by the weather.

Emergency evacuation centres Gloucester city - GL1 Leisure centre open Cheltenham - Pittville Pump Room open Tewkesbury - Rest centre open at borough council offices Tewkesbury - Innsworth Community Hall

Two Royal Navy Sea King helicopters have been scrambled from the Royal Marines base in Chivenor, Devon.

A wedding party of 40 people trapped by floodwater had to be rescued in Badgeworth Church near Staverton.

Householders who can see water rising are being urged to contact the council.

The Tewkesbury Water Festival has been cancelled, as has the Jools Holland concert at Westonbirt and the Stroud County Show.

The county council took more than 1,200 highways-related calls of which 950 required a dedicated response.

Both Cheltenham and Gloucester were recently awarded £20,000 by the government to help the victims of the June floods.

The county council has set up a scrutiny inquiry to look at what happened during those floods.