Residents anxious as floods 'peak'

Water levels were thought to have peaked on Friday afternoon - but more than 100 flood warnings remained in place, mainly in East Anglia.

Although rainfall had eased, high river levels and saturated ground meant even short showers could lead to further flooding, the Environment Agency (EA) warned.

The wet weather turned to snow in high areas of northern England, Wales and Scotland, bringing problems of its own.

Severe flood warnings - meaning an imminent risk to life or property - remained in place around the Surrey towns of Chertsey and Weybridge.

About 100 houses had already been flooded there by what is normally a minor tributary of the Thames.

There were also three severe flood warnings in Bedfordshire, around the rivers Flit, Great Ouse and Ivel.

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Chertsey resident Peter Percey, who was moved from his home, spoke of his frustration.

"We couldn't do anything. We just watched the water rise and now we have to wait for it to go down again and it's going to take months to sort out the damage.

"All the carpets downstairs are ruined. It will be up the walls. We will have to redecorate anything that's been covered in the water... it could get into cables and electric sockets."

Across many other parts of the country, the situation was looking brighter as the rain eased off - and forecasters were predicting a drier weekend.

An EA spokesman said: "We may have missed major flooding by a whisker."

However, serious problems remained for road and rail users as a result of flooding.

The A1 at Beeston in Bedfordshire was closed in both directions after a river burst its banks, and several train services in the south-west were disrupted.

People in flood-prone areas have been urged to protect their homes and property.

However, the EA's head of flood defence David Rooke said the situation had improved since flooding brought chaos to parts of the country in October 2000.

"Overall we have improved some 70km of defences and have protected about 25,000 people since two years ago," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

About 10,000 properties were flooded in October 2000, compared with 250 so far in January 2003.

But flood researcher Edmund Penning Rowsell, from Middlesex University, said the government would have to put money into protecting against flooding, as global warming seemed to mean Britain now had wetter winters.

The EA was optimistic that the situation would improve over the weekend.

A spokeswoman said: "We are expecting colder weather and it's going to be drier.

"Some areas will still remain on alert over the weekend, but we are expecting flood waters to recede."

For the latest information, the Environment Agency advises people to call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.