MP Richard Benyon praises community and authorities in worst hit areas today (Sun)

While the weather has been marginally better today than originally forecast, the accumulative affect of heavy rainfall on river levels and groundwater has had a substantial impact on a number of areas in West Berkshire.
In Newbury and Shaw, some properties in Cromwell Road and Wellington Close have been flooded, while

parts of the town, such as parts of the Northcroft playing fields (pictured, top)and Northcroft Lane and Shaw Cemetery remain underwater.
Homes in Purley, Eastbury, Great Shefford and Theale have also been flooded.
West Berkshire Council has deployed pumps to alleviate the impact of flooding in Eastbury and Great Shefford.
Parts of rural areas such as Pangbourne (pictured, bottom, credit @beckylblock) and Bucklebury are also severely flooded and The Swan at Pangbourne has been forced to close as a result.
Earlier today, Mr Benyon was assisting the emergency services, ward members Gordon Lundie and Graham Jones and army troops from the 7th Battalion The Rifles in Eastbury, helping village residents to protect their properties from flooding, delivering sandbags and helping get a pump back up and running.
He has also been at the district council’s emergency operation centre in Newbury and is visiting Bucklebury this afternoon.
Speaking to NewburyToday this afternoon, Mr Benyon said: “I’m very worried about Lambourn, we have got houses flooded in Great Shefford, houses flooded in Newbury and the River Lambourn and River Kennet in the town is absolutely full.
“The Kennet is lapping over the edge of the wall and it’s going to be interesting times for the next day or two.
“An enormous amount is being done, really good cooperative work.
“We are very stretched, not only have we got problems with the Lambourn and the Kennet but problems to the east of the district, places like Burghfield and Purley.
“It’s not a good situation but I’m just so amazed by how everybody has pulled together.
“Not only those that are paid – the council officials and the emergency services – but local communities.
“I came across a couple helping a vulnerable pensioner in Wellington Close. They were taking her into their house for the night.
“That sort of thing is a credit to people at times like this.”
Also today, communities secretary Eric Pickles blamed the Environment Agency for "bad advice" for the severe flooding in Somerset and warned that more flooding is likely to extend into the Thames Valley by the middle of next week.
West Berkshire Council is running its Emergency Operations Centre 24-hours a day for people who have been affected by or at risk of flooding.
It is not the council’s policy to issue sandbags, however they will be issued if properties are in imminent danger of flooding - but only if they will be effective and only if those householders are unable to help themselves. Sandbags will be prioritised for households who have vulnerable occupants who are unable to help themselves.
Civil engineers at West Berkshire Council are also directing a number of operations in force across the district, including at Pingewood substation which is currently under threat of flooding in Burghfield.
Council spokesman Keith Ulyatt said: “It’s not so much what West Berkshire Council are doing its what all the authorities working together are doing.
“That’s working very well.
“We have got army personelle as well as ourselves and local people, local parish councils.
“West Berkshire Council has an emergency operations centre and we are coordinating that.
“WE have our civil engineers out and about across the district.
“We are offering advice to people what they need to do…knocking on doors, going around individual households and saying this is what needs to be done.”
Anyone who has been affected or thinks they are likely to be affected by flooding can contact the council by emailing emergencyplanning@westberks.gov.uk

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Emergency contacts:
Environment Agency floodline for flood warnings information and advice 0845 988 1188
SSE emergency contact for southern England 0800 0727282
SSE priority service team 0800 2943259
West Berkshire Council streetcare during office hours 01635 519080, out of hours 01635 42161