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Roads closed due to heavy rain and flooding

BBC A flooded field near the River Creedy on the left, near Crediton, which is brown and has some tree branches in it. There is a road, with a stone wall in-between, on the right. BBC
The Environment Agency said there were flood warnings for rivers across Devon due to the heavy rain

Road closures and flood warnings have been issued in Devon due to heavy rain on Sunday.

Devon County Council (DCC) Highways asked motorists to find an "alternative route" after the A377 near Crediton was closed due to a flood at about 05:25 GMT.

Highways said at about 08:10 GMT Station Road in Newton St Cyres was also "impassable" due to flood water from the River Creedy.

BBC reporter Andrea Ormsby, who was at the scene, said the road was now "passable" but the River Creedy has broken its banks and nearby fields have become "a river".

The Environment Agency (EA) issued updated flood warnings for the areas around the five main rivers in Devon on Sunday evening.

The River Avon, Clyst, Lew, Taw and Torridge were being closely monitored due to to heavy rainfall, it said.

A red road closed sign which has one traffic cone to the left of it and two on the right. The sign is placed in the middle of the road. There are trees lining both sides of the road.
Andrea Ormsby said the A377 between Newton St Cyres and Crediton was closed due to an abandoned vehicle

Ormsby said the A377 between Newton St Cyres and Crediton was closed due to an "abandoned vehicle which tried to pass through flood water" on Saturday evening.

"There is no water on the road now," she added.

The road reopened just before 14:00 on Sunday.

DCC said Hunsdon Road near Ivybridge was flooded and impassable at about 08:30 GMT.

The authority advised motorists to find an alternative route.

A flooded field and footbridge after the River Creedy broke its banks due to heavy rain. There is grass on the left and red leaves on trees to the right. In the distance is drier fields and the cloudy grey sky. The water is brown.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning on Sunday morning for further heavy rainfall

The Met Office issued a yellow warning on Sunday morning for "further heavy rainfall" that may lead to some transport disruption in places.

It said the warning was in place until 09:00 GMT on Monday.

The EA had issued flood warnings earlier on Sunday for the River Taw and River Torridge.

It said: "Remain safe and be aware of your local surroundings."

DCC added flood waters may be "deep and fast flowing" in these areas, therefore urged residents to "take action now".

Submitted A high tide in Aveton Gifford. The water not clear and there are pieces of wood poking through the top. There is a wall with grass and trees on the left and in the distance green hills with trees.Submitted
A resident said the tide in the River Avon, at Aveton Gifford, was the highest they had seen

The EA issued a flood warning for River Avon from Didworthy to Aveton Gifford at 10:08 GMT.

A Kingsbridge resident said Tidal Road in Aveton Gifford was "almost covered" amid the heavy rain, adding it was the "highest tide" they have seen in the village.

They added: "It doesn't usually come up that far, but the storm has pushed the water up."

Other warnings issued on Sunday morning include the River Clyst from Broadclyst to Clyst St. Mary and the River Lew at Gribbleford Bridge and Hatherleigh.

Keith Smith A black car parked in a flooded parking area. The water is covering the wheels. There is a park in the background and small buildings on the rightKeith Smith
Keith Smith took this photo in Seaton on Sunday morning

Alex Osborne, BBC weather presenter

"It may come as a bit of a shock to the system - much milder, yes – but also wetter. Temperatures in places are 10C higher than yesterday.

"After some transient overnight sleet/snow, milder air has spread in overnight and we've since seen an abrupt transition back to rain – now the next source of potential disruption.

"As a result, the Met Office has issued a weather warning for rain, until 09:00 on Monday, with the risk of localised surface water flooding.

"So umbrellas/fewer layers needed on Sunday. But it's not time to put the winter woollies away just yet, colder air returns on Monday."

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