If you live down south

[Kahnee]

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn tonight strengthened warnings of severe flooding over the next 48 hours from a tidal surge expected to hit the coast of England.

The Environment Agency warned of a "major" tidal surge - rising from a combination of gale force winds and a high tide - to hit the east coast of England.

Severe flood warnings are in place along much of the Norfolk, Suffolk and Kent coasts and across the Anglian region.

The Dartford Creek and Thames barriers will close at 8pm tonight to defend against the surge, the agency said.

In a brief statement to the Commons, Mr Benn warned of potentially serious flooding over the next 48 hours.

Police are on standby in the areas most likely to be affected to co-ordinate the emergency response - including evacuation if necessary, he said.

Mr Benn told MPs: "A tidal surge of up to three metres is making its way down the North Sea which could coincide with peak high tides.

"There is a risk of flood defences being over-topped on the coast and in tidal rivers, especially in East Anglia, particularly the Norfolk Broads and the coast south of Great Yarmouth including Lowestoft, and areas south of this as far as the coast of Kent."

He added: "In the area as a whole there are currently six severe flood warnings, five flood warnings and 15 flood watches. There are also several flood warnings and flood watches in place in Yorkshire."

An Environment Agency spokesman said the surge had been caused by gale force winds in Scotland making their way down the coast of England combined with a high tide.

There are six severe flood warnings, five flood warnings and 22 flood watches nationally, covering North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and the north Kent coast.

The severe warnings are in place from Great Yarmouth down to the village of Shingle Street, and on parts of the River Bure and River Yare.

Suffolk County Council said it was considering whether to order people in vulnerable areas to leave their homes because of possible flooding, while in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, sandbagging preparations were under way.

From the north Kent coast around to Sandwich and Deal, people were being asked to be vigilant and to watch weather and tide warnings.

Residents in East Anglia were tonight warned of an "extreme danger to life and property".

An agency spokesman said: "We've issued six severe flood warnings in East Anglia and we expect flooding.

"We're warning people there's an extreme danger to life and property."

An agency spokesman said a 2.9-metre sea surge, coupled with high tides and storms, was expected to result in water levels rising above sea defences.

He likened the current conditions to those leading up to the floods of 1953 - when large parts of East Anglia were left under water.

"In 1953, there was a 3.2-metre surge and also high tides and a storm. It's comparable but we're much better prepared now," the spokesman said.

[Cobs]

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[M4TTA]

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[Earl Hafler]

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[fyds]

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[Benitez]

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