UK weather: Fire service heads to flood-ravaged south in largest deployment since WW2

Devon and Somerset Fire service deliver a pump to residents flooded in Fordgate on the Somerset Levels near Bridgwater (Getty Images)

Fire and rescue workers from across England and Wales are descending on the flood-ravaged south of the country in what amounts to the largest deployment of fire brigade assets since the Second World War.

Nearly three-quarters of the 49 fire brigades across England and Wales' are participating in the fight against flooding, sending staff and equipment to Somerset, Thames Valley and Cornwall.

The assets involve more than 200 staff, over 100 fire engines, around 25 high-volume water pumps and dozens of boats, which are pumping water, evacuating residents and managing sandbag stations alongside around 1,000 staff from local brigades.

“Assets are coming from all over the country. From Durham, West Yorkshire, Liverpool, Mersey, Cumbria, Lincolnshire - all over. And they are geared up to stay overnight,” said Des Prichard, chief fire officer for East Sussex.

“The Royal Berkshire has 11 fire service brigades helping, including Cheshire, Derbyshire, Merseyside, Wiltshire, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire,” Mr Prichard added.

The job of the Fire and Rescue service could become even more difficult tomorrow with the Met Office forecasting between 30 and 40mm of rain in just six hours this morning in West Dorset, South Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

“If we can just get through the next 24 to 48 hours, we should return to more normal winter weather next week,” said Sarah Davies, of the Met Office.

However, Tony Willison, programme director at the Environment Agency, warned the floods were likely to persist for some time to come, with “hundreds of properties still likely to flood”.

Meanwhile, parts of Northern England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland face the prospect of up to 10cms of snow tonight as the weather cools.