One person has been killed and more than a 100,000 left without power as storms and high winds battered Britain, bringing more misery to already flooded areas and causing widespread travel chaos.
Royal Engineers transport a policeman by boat through floodwaters in Thames Meadow, near Shepperton, south of London. Photo: AFP
Gusts of more than 180km/h lashed western England and Wales early on Thursday, while severe flood warnings remained in place for much of the south and west of Britain.
A man in his 70s died in a suspected electrocution after a tree brought down cables in Wiltshire, police said. The Energy Networks Association, which represents energy companies, reported that 130,000 customers had been left without power late on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
Parts of southwest England have been under water for weeks after the country's wettest January in nearly 250 years, and areas around the River Thames to the west of London have also been hit by flooding.
Emergency services said they had rescued more than 850 people from their homes along the Thames in Surrey since Sunday as the river rises to its highest level in places for more than 60 years.
Sixteen severe flood warnings remain for Berkshire, Surrey and Somerset - all already hit by severe flooding However, a rare "red warning" for wind in parts of the country is no longer in place.
The severe weather has led to major travel disruption with motorways and bridges closed, and many rail services cancelled.
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised that "money was no object" in the relief effort with fears that there was more bad weather to come.
The British army officer leading the flood recovery efforts has described as "an almost unparalleled natural crisis".
Meteorologist Charlie Powell said conditions were expected to improve on Thursday, but more "wet and breezy" weather was expected at the weekend.
