Storms close schools and routes

Eight schools in western England were closed by flooding and power cuts on Thursday following heavy rain.

Police and fire crews helped stranded motorists and dealt with alarms triggered by the storms.

Southern Electricity was investigating a suspected lightning strike on a sub station, which blacked out about 940 homes in Wroughton in Wiltshire.

And accidents closed part of the A4 Portway in Bristol and a lane on the A417 Barnwood Link Road in Gloucester.

Pumping station

A power failure also knocked out a water pumping station in Gloucestershire, causing supplies in Hasfield and Corse to dry up.

Severn Trent Water said the system was being refilled, but that pressure would be low when supplies returned.

In Swindon, Wootton Bassett Road was closed by flooding and drivers were warned to take care at Bruce St Bridges where a manhole cover had lifted.

Several homes flooded in the West Lea area as river levels rose and Swindon borough council set up a helpline for residents to call for support.

School closures

In Bristol, floods closed Ridings School in Winterbourne, St Augustines of Canterbury in Downend, Novers Lane Infants and reception classes at Hareclive Primary.

In Gloucestershire, power cuts shut Ashchurch Primary in Tewkesbury, Fairford Church of England Primary and Farmor's School, Fairford.

Bibury Church of England Primary School in Gloucestershire suffered both flooding and a power cut.