Flash flooding sparks school closures and travel chaos in Somerset and Devon

Flooding in North Somerset

Intense rain has caused widespread disruption across the West Country, with schools closed and people forced out of their homes.

Road and rail travel has also been affected, with parts of Dorset, Devon, and Somerset the worst hit.

Flooding has forced the closure of the A303 in Somerset between Podimore and Cartgate and drivers are being urged to avoid the area.

National Highways said the road could remain closed for "some time."

Several primary schools have said they will be closed on Tuesday 5 December.

  • Chilthorne Domer Church School is closed, according to Somerset Council, with heavy flooding reported on nearby roads and "staff unable to get to school."

  • Kingsbury Episcopi Primary School, in Martock, is closed on Tuesday due to flooding and road closures.

  • Sewage systems have been overwhelmed at Sedgemoor Manor School by the rainfall. This means that it is not safe to open the school site on Tuesday as there will be no toilet or handwashing facilities.

  • Crispin School, in Street, is closed today due to flooding.

Pupils and teachers clear water from Pennard school.

  • South Somerset Partnership School, Yeovil, is closed today. The flooding in the local area means transport is unable to guarantee they can bring pupils to school and some staff are also unable to safely get to work. The school expects to be back to normal on Wednesday 6 December.

  • Chilthorne Domer Church School is closed due to severe floods staff being unable to get to school.

  • Ash CofE School is closed today due to local flooding and the availability of staff. We cannot safely staff the school and nursery in the morning.

  • Buckler's Mead School, Yeovil, will open late. Due to the current weather conditions and flooding, the decision has been made to open the site from 9.30 am on Tuesday 5 December Students should please arrive in time for period two and go directly to their lesson.

  • Meare Village Primary School is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to flooding.

  • Westfield Academy, Yeovil, will open late today. It will open at 10 am on Tuesday 5 December. Students should go directly to lesson two.

  • St Dunstan's School:

In a statement on its website, a St Dunstan's School spokesperson said: "Due to the current adverse weather conditions and various roads being closed, the decision has been made that St Dunstan’s will open to students at 9.30 on Tuesday 5 December.

"Students should go directly to their tutor rooms when they arrive.

"We are not sure if the school buses are running but there will be staff on-site to meet them if this is the case."

Highways teams have been working to clear the roads. Credit: Somerset Council

Travel

Great Western Railway took to social media to say: "The line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon is blocked. Trains are running on a diversionary route.

"The line between Taunton and Westbury is also blocked due to flooding.

"Check your journey before travelling at http://GWR.com/Check"

Key roads still flooded in Somerset:

A356 Bower Hinton - from A303 to West Chinnock

A303 Somerset - closed in both directions from A3088 Cartgate to A37 Podimore

A361 Greinton - Broadmead Drove to Partridge Cl

A378 Curry Rivel - Drayton turning to Brickwall Ln

Tylers Lane - Fitzhead closed due to a landslip

The A303 was closed in both directions due to flooding. Credit: National Highways

Flood alerts have been issued for:

  • Middle Stour from Hammoon to Sturminster Marshall

  • River Axe (Upper) from Winsham to Axminster, including Chard Junction and Weycroft

  • River Brit at Newtown, and Southgate Old Mill, Beaminster

  • River Brue and Glastonbury Millstream from Lovington to Highbridge, low lying properties

  • River Culm (Lower) from Cullompton to Stoke Canon, including Hele

  • River Culm (Upper) from Hemyock to Cullompton

  • River Isle at Ashford Mill and Ilford Bridges

  • River Isle at Ilminster

  • River Isle from Chard Reservoir to Hambridge not including Ilminster

  • River Parrett (upper) at Thorney and Kingsbury Episcopi

  • River Parrett (upper) from South Perrott to Thorney

  • River Tone from Bathpool to Ham including Ruishton and Creech St Michael, riverside properties

  • River Wriggle at Chetnole

  • River Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster

  • River Yeo at Mudford

  • River Yeo from Sherborne to Yeovil

  • Upper Stour from Gillingham to Hammoon

Friends paddleboard in a flooded country lane in Backwell. Credit: Henry Mainstone

On Monday 4 December, Residents in the areas affected were warned to move family, pets, and cars to safety and to turn off gas, electricity, and water if it's safe to do so.

People have also been urged to avoid low-lying footpaths and to not drive or walk through flood water.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service told ITV News West Country it had been called to 74 incidents of flooding in properties.

"We have had 44 calls for cars stuck in flood water and we have attended 24 of these. We are still receiving a high volume of calls and the worst affected area is Somerset," a spokesperson said.

Weycroft Bridge

Residents have been forced out of their homes in Weycroft Bridge near Axminster.

The River Axe has burst its banks, causing flooding on the A358 and surrounding homes.

Locals say they haven't seen anything like it in decades.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service deployed an inflatable rescue boat to try and reach residents, including a 77-year-old man and his dog who had been stranded at their property.