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Storm Bert brings flood warnings and power cuts

BBC Tree fallen onto a house. Three is resting on the trees roof after falling.BBC
A tree has fallen on to a house at Cowick Street in Exeter

Storm Bert is battering Devon and Cornwall with flood warnings in place, trees down across the region and many properties without power.

Devon and Cornwall Police has advised people in the South West to "only travel when necessary".

The Environment Agency has issued 19 flood warnings and more than 35 flood alerts for Devon, and three flood warnings and 15 flood alerts for Cornwall.

The National Grid said it had worked through the night to help restore electricity to about 5,000 homes. Power cuts have been reported across Devon and Cornwall and bosses have urged people to stay clear of any fallen electricity poles or power lines.

Nicholas John Phipps The large tree has fallen and its roots can be seen coming up through the ground as it lies on its sideNicholas John Phipps
A large tree at Cheshire Road, in Exmouth, has been blown down
Graham Russell Photo of a flooded road with water covering the road entirely with the river to the right.Graham Russell
A flooded road near Chudleigh, Devon

In Cornwall, part of the A30 is closed due to a multi-vehicle crash.

Supt Si Jenkinson, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "The weather is causing significant issues across the two counties with flooding and debris affecting all routes."

Highways teams are dealing with a number of fallen trees across the region.

Paul Wilkins, the duty manager at the Devon County Council Network Operations Control Centre, said: "We've had a really busy night, particularly with the winds.

"We've had lots of trees down across the network and that seems to be ramping up at the moment, as people start to move around, we are starting to get more calls coming through."

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for strong winds and heavy rain for Devon and Cornwall until Sunday evening.

Fallen tree that has ripped up paving stones on the nearby path and is now resting on a nearby bank.
A tree has fallen down at Kings Road, near City College Plymouth
Krazy Keith/BBC Weather Watchers Flooded fields and paths near Exeter. Trees and vegetation blowing the windKrazy Keith/BBC Weather Watchers
Flooded paths and fields near Exeter on Sunday morning
Cyril Stratus/BBC Weather Watchers Saturated ground near St Breward in Cornwall - lots of surface water and vegetation, green fields in the distanceCyril Stratus/BBC Weather Watchers
Saturated ground near St Breward in Cornwall

Steve Marks, area duty manager for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly at the Environment Agency, said: "It's really our rivers in Devon and also east Cornwall which have had the most rain and the bigger rivers are continuing to rise.

"We're expecting more rainfall throughout the day so it really is an important message to please stay up to date with what the rivers are doing through our flood warning service.

"And of course, be safe, be prepared and be ready to act if those rivers do potentially cause flooding."

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In south Devon, the Dartmouth Higher Ferry is closed due to the weather conditions.

Red road closed sign in Exeter. Fallen tree leaning on a house can be seen in the distance
A road has been closed in Exeter due to a fallen tree

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