Storm shuts schools and roads as West is flooded

HEAVY rain and strong winds are hitting the UK as Storm Chandra brought weather warnings, flooding, travel disruption and school closures.

- ROD MINCHIN, CLAIRE HAYHURST AND NEIL LANCEFIELD

Flooding at the River Exe outside of Exeter after the rain from Storm Chandra

(William Dax/SWNS)

A severe flood warning was in force in Ottery St Mary in Devon, with residents warned their homes could be submerged.

The Environment Agency said the floodwater was expected to be “deep and fast flowing”.

BBC Radio Devon listener Jackie Blackford, who lives in Ottery St Mary, said she can see the River Otter from her house.

She said: “I live on a hill overlooking part of the Otter and it’s normally quite a nice little river.

“At the moment, it’s a raging torrent. It is horrendous - I've never seen anything like it.”

Ms Blackford said there had been a lot of traffic trying to get out of Ottery St Mary and she had seen people turning around.

Devon and Cornwall Police said there was “significant surface water and areas of flooding across parts of the force” area and warned motorists in Exeter, East and Mid Devon not to travel.

“There is widespread disruption of the roads particularly across Exeter, East and Mid Devon this morning, with many roads becoming impassable,” a police spokesman said. “We are experiencing an increase in reports of people coming up against floodwater.

“Please do not attempt to drive through it. The weather is improving but rivers are still responding to earlier heavy rainfall.”