Somerset travel warning as heavy rain causes flooding

People are being asked to avoid travelling in Somerset after heavy rain led to flooding.

Avon and Somerset Police said the region was experiencing extreme weather conditions and there was flooding in many areas.

They have advised against non-essential travel with many roads closed.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it had received a high number of calls and to only contact them if there was a risk to life.

A number of businesses on The Avenue in Minehead have been flooded, including Toddy's takeaway.

Charlene Todd said: "I was on a day off but I got a call from work to say rain water was filling up all our drains to the rear of the property and coming in the door. We were meant to be open at 10am but we couldn't."

She said the cafe's flooring had been damaged and they may have lost fridge and freezer stock because they had to turn them off.

"We were flooded up to our ankles all the way through the cafe. The drains were bubbling, there was nowhere for it to go. We opened our front doors and let the water run through the shop to let it out.

"Jewson's opened up because there were no sandbags anywhere in Minehead. We were sharing our sandbags with neighbours," added Ms Todd.

Many roads in Minehead have been closed by police including Townsend Road, a partial closure of Ponsford Road, The Avenue, Alcombe Road, Park Street, King George Road and Mark Road.

The A39 at Bilbrook is also among the roads closed due to flooding between Dunster and Carhampton.

Buses of Somerset said its 28 service Taunton to Minehead had been cancelled for the rest of Sunday because of flooding.

Blue Anchor Station on the heritage West Somerset Railway flooded, damaging a signal box and all services are suspended on the route for the rest of the day.

Melanie Burnett, who lives in Minehead, said a nearby holiday let she owns has flooded.

"It's been raining non-stop since 6:30am this morning," she said.

"Fortunately the guests left before 11am this morning - hopefully they made it back to Bristol safely.

"The flooding happened later this morning. It's come though the front window, and the back door into the back bedroom.

"It was above my ankles but has subsided," added Ms Burnett.

Keith Hunt, who runs Our Precious Earth zero waste shop on Holloway Street in Minehead, said his shop has flooded but he is unable to get to it from his home in Bilbrook due to floodwater.

"The ford rose in just a couple of minutes, our neighbour's floodgates kept the mud out but not the water," he said.

"Dunster flood relief channel didn't have any water in it first thing but 20 minutes later there was a torrent coming down there which shows how quickly it must have come down

"It's not just my shop affected, there are so many others in town.

"A friend went to check for me and it looks like the water came in the back door and out the front door from the sound of it. It's not worth the risk trying to get in today," added Mr Hunt.

Paramedic Andy Nickolls, posting on X, formerly Twitter, asked people to stay at home, saying the floodwater was "deep and fast moving".

"Our crews and control staff are working hard responding to 999 calls for flooding.

"Please only call if needed as we are under some real demand at this time. Staying off the roads will help us reach incidents and prevent you getting stuck in floodwater," he said.

Somerset Council lead member for transport, Mike Rigby, said: "So much rain has fallen I think there's a real risk that it could take some time to move down through the system.

"It's a very large catchment area here so I would imagine that streams and rivers will be very high for the rest of the day and into tomorrow as well, so caution is urged for the whole of that period."

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