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Gloucester travellers' site and homes cut off by flooding

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Alf, who needs dialysis twice a week, was taken to hospital after being rescued from the site

More than 300 people staying on a travellers' site have been stranded by flood water.

The site on Sandhurst Lane in Gloucester has been under water for several days, but at the moment caravans remain dry.

The approach road to the council-owned Lane is flooded and residents say they are are concerned as supplies run out.

A county council spokeswoman said most residents had chosen to remain on site.

A number of other properties in the lane have been affected by the flooding, with one resident praising the work of the fire service.

He said they had been regularly visited by emergency services to check on their welfare.

Earlier an elderly man in his wheelchair was rescued from the site by firefighters in a boat. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

Rescue
Rescue teams are also removing animals

Some people been wading through waist-deep water while others have left in adopted vehicle to get supplies.

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One resident told BBC News: "We've had to make our own way out because they've deserted us.

"We've had no help from the council whatsoever."

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This woman said there were disabled people and children on the site

Gloucestershire County Council said its traveller liaison officer was on site checking on people's welfare.

"The choice for most of the residents is to remain on the site," she said.

She added residents had been given emergency phone numbers in case the situation got worse and the offer them lifts on and off the site, but stressed rescues would be prioritised "over taking people shopping".

Elsewhere across the county there are five severe flood warnings, meaning a danger to life, and 22 warnings where flooding is expected imminently.