LIVE: Storm Bert clean-up efforts underway across UK as hundreds of homes underwater and more than 130 flood alerts in place

 The British Red Cross was deployed in Northwich, Monmouthshire and Enniskillen over the weekend to help those evacuated due to Storm Bert and with clean up operations.

They have also offered some tips for what you can do to stay safe during and after a flood.

During a flood     

• Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwater. Six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you over. Two feet of water can float a car.     

• If you need to evacuate, turn off the main power before you leave. You can be electrocuted in floodwater if the power remains switched on. 

• Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage.    

• If the flood poses a threat to your safety, call the emergency services immediately.     

• If you need to leave your home and have nowhere to stay your local council will help.     

After a flood     

• Get rid of any contaminated food.  

• Boil tap water or use bottled water until supplies are declared safe.     

• Flooding is a stressful experience. If you need support, call NHS 111 by dialling 111. They’ll tell you about crisis support services.  You can also call the British Red Cross support line on 0808 196 3651 between 10am-12 midday Monday to Friday. You can also request a call back between 10am and 5pm. 

 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.”

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. 

 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.

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.

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 

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.

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.