Travel disruption as heavy rain floods roads near Bristol

Flooding has caused travel disruption with trains cancelled and cars stranded.

Heavy rainfall saw roads in parts of Bristol, North Somerset and Wiltshire closed, including part of the M4.

Great Western Railway (GWR) said train services, including between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, had been cancelled as a consequence.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called out to four incidents involving stranded cars on Friday morning.

The Environment Agency said there was "a significant amount of rain overnight in the Bristol and North Somerset area, with up to 40mm in places".

According to the Met office, 40mm is almost half of the average rainfall for all of November for Bristol, which is 90mm.

The fire and rescue service has been urging motorists to turn around and find alternative routes if met with floodwater.

It said Backwell had experienced the worst of the flooding, where it was in attendance at Farleigh Road, using pumps to help reduce the effects of flooding to properties.

In and around Wiltshire, GWR services between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads via Chippenham and Bath Spa are also cancelled.

National Highway said all eastbound lanes of the M4 were reopened between Junction 16 for Swindon and Junction 17 for Chippenham.

Closures had been put in place to allow contractors to reduce the high volume of water that had run onto the road.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are also in attendance at a property in Dianmer Close, Hook, near Royal Wootton Bassett, after reports of flooding just after 09:00 GMT on Friday.

The service said a fire engine from Westlea was in attendance, with ejector pumps being used to remove the water from the property.

Meanwhile, North Somerset Council said it had responded to three incidents of trees coming down.

It added it was attending a number of incidents at Lipgate Place, Tickenham Road near the M5 bridge, Clarken Coombe, Wolvershill Road, Farleigh Road Backwell, Rownham Hill, and Church Town Backwell.

Also in Somerset, road closures are in place on the A368 due to flooding from St Leonard Church turn-off for Chelwood to Hunstrete the turn-off.

According to the traffic monitoring agency Inrix, the A433 Church Street in Gloucestershire has now reopened after being closed in both directions due to flooding between Berrells Road and B4014 Market Place.

It comes as flooding hit many parts of the West last week due to Storm Ciarán.

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