Rising rivers threaten further floods

The Severn and Thames are among the rivers in western and central England that are threatening to overflow as the flooding crisis continues.

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has visited Gloucestershire, which is one of the worst affected regions in the UK.

Mr Brown said that funding would be increased to £800m from £600m to help tackle the crisis: "We are going to be increasing the money that goes to flood and coastal defences so that we can be as well protected as possible in the future."

The Environment Agency boss Baroness Young is reported to have said that around £1bn a year may be needed to shore up flood defences.

Flooding caused by "monsoon" rains has inundated the infrastructure in parts of western England with electricity and water services badly affected in some areas.

Parts of Worcestershire are under 6ft of water and a water treatment works near Worcester is out of action.

In Glouscestershire, Tewkesbury is isolated with some 70,000 residents stranded, as roads are impassable due to floodwater.

Electricity has been cut off as a sub-station near Castlemeads, leaving around 48,000 without power.

The River Severn looks likely to overflow in Gloucestershire and residents are being evacuated.

In central England, the Thames is also threatening to overtop its banks in Oxfordshire from Sandford-on-Thames to Little Wittenham where a severe flood warning is in force. The river bridge at Station Road has been closed at Shipton-under-Wychwood on the A361.

Water in the Sutton water supply area has been contaminated with rainwater and consumers have been instructed to boil water.

Military assistance has been drafted in to help in some of the worst affected areas. Water tankers are being deployed in Tewksbury.

People have been asked to conserve treated water and not to use it to clean up flood damaged areas.

Rivers in some areas are expected to keep rising until Tuesday.

(SP/KMcA)