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Storm Bert causes flooding and power cuts

Georgie Marfell A road which is impassible due to flood water. Hedges and shrubbery are seen both sides of the carriageway. The water is filling the carriageway and is brown in colour.Georgie Marfell
Roads are flooded across Somerset, including Nynehead Road near Wellington

Storm Bert is battering parts of the West, with a number of flood warnings in place, roads and businesses closed, and hundreds of properties without power.

Businesses including Longleat Safari Park near Warminster and Cotswold Park Farm in Cheltenham closed on Sunday due to the yellow weather warnings.

The Environment Agency has issued 13 flood warnings for parts of Somerset, three for Wiltshire and one for Gloucestershire.

Meanwhile, both Wiltshire Police and Gloucestershire Constabulary urged people to travel only if necessary.

Richard Poulter A large tree across the carriageway. A gate is also flung open to the right of the picture.Richard Poulter
A large tree has fallen on the Dursley to Tetbury road in Gloucestershire

It comes as properties are without power and motorists face travel disruption across the region.

In Somerset, the A3088 near Yeovil remains closed from the junction for Montacute to the Garadore roundabout, after a five-vehicle collision - which included an overturned tanker.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers were called to the crash at about 06:30 GMT on Sunday and two people have been taken to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Train users are facing cancellations - as the line between Westbury and Weymouth is closed due to a fallen tree, blocking the line at Yeovil Pen Mill.

Great Western Railway said disruption is expected until at least 14:25 GMT and road replacement transport was being sourced.

Bosses warned travel times would be longer due to weather conditions and road closures.

Pittville Swans & Friends A large tree that has fallen across a path in Pittville Park in Cheltenham. The trees roots can be seen and it is near the park's duck pond.Pittville Swans & Friends
A number of trees have fallen in Cheltenham's Pittville Park

According to travelling monitoring site Inrix, in Bristol, one lane on the northbound carriageway of the M32, between J3 A4320 Easton Way and J2 B4058 for Eastville is closed due to flooding.

In Gloucestershire, the A4136 is closed in both directions due to flooding between the Yew Tree and Old Hill.

The M48 Severn Bridge is also closed in both directions due to strong winds, but has since reopened.

Both the Quays Ice Rink and Hempsted Household Recycling Centre are closed in Gloucester along with the Flight Before Christmas grotto event at Cotswold Airport.

A number of trees have been blown down in Pittville Park in Cheltenham.

Longleat Longleat's dinosaur display toppled over during the night.Longleat
Longleat Safari Park had hoped to reopen on Sunday but said it would remain closed due to damage caused overnight

In Wiltshire, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), about 1,900 people are without power.

Wiltshire Police is urging residents to only call 999 in an emergency, and is signposting those who wish to report obstructions and debris on roads to local authorities or National Highways.

"We are currently receiving a high number of calls related to the weather such as fallen trees or debris in the road," it said.

"Please only travel when necessary. Be careful on the roads and adjust speeds and braking distances accordingly," it added.

In Swindon, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said Maxwell Street and Lorne Street had been closed until further notice due to an unsafe building.

"Please avoid the area," it added.

Matt Morris A brick wall which has fallen over. Brick debris is on the windscreen of a silver Ford car.Matt Morris
A wall has fallen on a car in Bradley Stoke, Bristol

Meanwhile, Somerset Council said their teams had been "busy overnight responding to reports" of more than 30 fallen trees and areas of flooding.

"Please bear with us today as we're dealing with a high call volumes and will be prioritising main roads," it said.

It also encouraged motorists not to drive through flood water and to take care if travelling.

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