Residents battling to protect homes from flooding as rain warning is upgraded to amber

Currently there is a yellow warning for wind in force for district for the remainder of today (Weds), with rain expected to continue all afternoon.
However, an amber warning for rain – the second highest that can be issued by the Met Office – will come into play at 3pm tomorrow and is not set to be removed until the early hours of Sunday morning.
Today’s downpours are already having an impact on properties in West Berkshire as the rain falls on already saturated ground, following from the wettest January since Met Office records began in 1910.
Among those who have already been affected are in Shaw, while flooding from the River Lambourn is expected to begin entering properties imminently.
Pictured is Shaw Road resident Alastair Wood, who is trying to protect his property from flooding from the River Lambourn.
The Environment Agency has re-enforce a number of flood warnings and alerts on local rivers that had previously been removed.
Red flood warnings – which indicate that flooding is expected and immediate action is required – have been reinforced on the River Thames at Purley Village and the River Kennet from Denford to Marsh Benham, including in Kintbury.
Amber flood alerts remain for the River Thames in Pangbourne, Whitchurch and Purley, and also for its tributaries which include Goring and Streatley.
Two amber alerts also still apply on the River Kennet for its tributaries from Berwick Bassett to Newbury and also from Thatcham to Reading, including in Burghfield, Colthrop, Woolhampton, Aldermaston, Theale, Calcot and Southcote.
The River Pang from East Ilsley to Pangbourne and Sulham Brook has the same amber alert, as does the River Lambourn, including in Shaw, Eastbury, East Garston, Welford, Easton, Boxford, Woodspeen, Bagnor, Donnington, Great Shefford on the Great Shefford Stream and Winterbourne on the Winterbourne Stream.
The Environment Agency is also warning residents to be prepared for groundwater flooding in the area, as rain falls on already saturated ground.
There are currently amber groundwater flood alerts in place in the Upper Aldbourne Valley and in the Lambourn valley, including in Great Shefford.
Don’t forget to keep updated of flooding in your area.
You can send you photographs and information to reporter Ellis Barker by emailing ellis.barker@newburynews.co.uk or you can tweet us directly on @NewburyToday or @ellisb_nwn