Coastal towns hit by flooding as storms continue to lash UK

High tides, strong winds and heavy rain have brought yet more flooding to south-west Britain, with several coastal towns in Devon and Cornwall knee-deep in water and train services in the area at a near standstill.

The Environment Agency has issued two severe flood warnings, meaning danger to life, for areas affected by tidal flooding from the already severely breached river Severn. A further 100 flood warnings are in place with more unsettled weather expected.

An unusually high tide on Monday morning breached defences in several towns on the south coasts of Cornwall and Devon, including Fowey, Newlyn, Porthleven, Mevagissey, and Devonport. Images from Looe in Cornwall showed water lapping at shop windows.

Speaking to the BBC, Geoff Penhaligon, the town's harbourmaster, said: "There is lots of water in the main street and behind the market it is too deep for a car."

Flooding forced First Great Western to cancel trains between Liskeard and Looe and Land's End to Plymouth. It also blamed poor weather conditions for the cancellation of all services between Exeter and Newton Abbot.

The Met Office issued a yellow "be aware" warning for south-west England, southern Wales, Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland.

For south-west England it said: "Another spell of wet and windy weather is expected to cross the area from the west during Monday. Outbreaks of heavy rain will be accompanied by strengthening southerly winds which may also combine with high tides to increase the risk of coastal flooding in exposed locations. The public should be aware of the risk of further disruption … Gales coupled with high tides brings the risk of waves overtopping coastlines."

The Environment Agency warned the public to avoid "extremely dangerous" coastal areas between Newlyn and Plymouth. It also warned of dangerous conditions on the banks of the Severn south-west of Gloucester. "We have upgraded this warning to a severe flood warning due to the potential impact on isolated communities, access routes and the road network."

Natural Resources Wales had 26 flood warnings in place covering the whole of the Welsh coast. It warned that high tides and strong winds were set to continue this week.

Elsewhere, London's Thames barrier is due to close at 1pm, after a similar closure on Sunday. In December and January the barrier was closed for 13 tides in a row, only one behind the record of 14 set in January 2003.

The Met Office is warning that the weather pattern that has caused this winter's flooding may continue for the rest of February.