LIVE: Storm Bert causes massive rail commuter chaos as 150 flood warnings remain in place
by Katy Ronkin · LBCLive
By Katy Ronkin
Commuters face rail and motorway disruptions after Storm Bert causes flooding across the UK.
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Storm Bert will continue to bring disruption into Monday after torrential downpours caused "devastating" flooding over the weekend.
The Met Office forecast that rain in the south-east of England will clear on Monday but blustery showers could stick around for the north-west.
Hundreds of flood warnings are still active this morning.
Storm Bert wreaked havoc across parts of the UK over the weekend, with hundreds of homes left underwater, roads turned into rivers and winds of up to 82mph were recorded across parts of the UK.
At least five people are thought to have died.
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West Mercia Police said it was aware of videos circulating on social media showing a tractor driving through flood water in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, on Sunday, allegedly causing damage to local premises.
Many business owners in the town have said waves caused by the tractor smashed windows of already-flood-hit premises and worsened flooding in some areas protected by sandbags.
A police statement said: "We're actively investigating the incident and officers are in Tenbury Wells this morning speaking to people whose businesses and properties may have been affected, as well as reviewing additional video footage.
"No arrests have been made at this time. We will provide further updates when we are able to."
Katy Ronkin
A5 closed in both directions in Northamptonshire
National Highways said the A5 in Northamptonshire is closed in both directions between the A43 (Towcester) and A422/A508 (Old Stratford) due to "severe flooding" in the area.
Specialist contractors are working at the scene to clear the flood water from the carriageway.
The M32 in Bristol was closed in both directions between Junction 1 (Stoke Gifford) and Junction 19 (M4) from late on Sunday night.
It was fully reopened at around 5am on Monday.
Katy Ronkin
GWR suspends service on "all key routes"
Great Western Railway said it has suspended service on all key routes due to flooding and fallen trees.
The rail service said it is working hard to reopen the network. Disruption is expected to last until at least end of day on Monday.
Customers are advised not to travel.
Katy Ronkin
In pictures: Storm Bert batters the UK
Katy Ronkin
ICYMI: Moment tractor driver smashes waves through shop windows by driving through flooded town in Storm Bert
This is the shocking moment a tractor driver sends waves of water through shop windows of a flooded town after Storm Bert hit.
The driver can be seen driving through Tenbury Wells, a market town in Worcestershire, which was under several feet of water.
Locals had worked hard to keep the water out, but the tractor's wheels sent large waves out to the side, smashing into the windows of the shops and other businesses.
Katy Ronkin
Commuters warned not to travel on these rails services
Great Western Railway urges people not travel on its services between:
- Penzance to London Paddington;
- Newport, Bristol Parkway to London Paddington;
- Bristol Temple Meads, Swindon, Reading to London Paddington;
- Worcester to London Paddington;
- Exeter St Davids to Okehampton and Exeter to Barnstaple.
Southern, which runs rail services across the south-east of England, said some services on Monday will be cancelled or revised because of forecast severe weather, including on its London network and the West Coastway between Havant and Southampton.
Greater Anglia and Stansted Express have issues on the following services, which aren't expected to run until 2pm today:
- London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport;
- London Liverpool Street to Cambridge/Cambridge North;
- Stratford to Bishop's Stortford;
- Stratford to Meridian Water;
- A "very limited train service" will be in operation between Liverpool Street and Harlow Town.
Katy Ronkin
Lots of roads across the country are closed because of flooding including:
- In Staffordshire, the A34 Newcastle Road is closed at Chesterton
- In Northamptonshire, the A5 is closed in both directions between the Towcester turn off and the Milton Keynes turn off
- In Devon, the A358 Marlborough Road is closed at Axminster
- In Somerset, the A431 High Street is closed at Weston
- And lots of roads in Dumfries & Galloway remain closed because of snow including the A702 at Thornhill
Katy Ronkin
Disruption on line between Birmingham and London
West Midlands Railway is warning passengers about problems on its Birmingham New Street to London Euston line due to flooding.
"Due to heavy rain flooding the railway between Birmingham New Street and London Euston fewer trains are able to run," it said in a statement.
"Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised."
It said they expect trains to run as normal from 2:30pm.
Katy Ronkin
Hundreds of flood warnings and alerts in place across UK
In England, there's one severe warning (River Nene at Billing Aquadrome and nearby business parks), 164 standard warnings and 211 flood alerts.
In Wales, there are two severe warnings (River Monnow at Forge Road, Osbaston and River Monnow at Skenfrith), 10 standard warnings and 34 flood alerts.
In Scotland there are no severe warnings in place.
Katy Ronkin
Good morning
Good morning. We're back this morning with our Storm Bert live blog as commuters face travel chaos.
Follow our live blog for updates.
Katy Ronkin