Travel disruption following storm as weather warning remains in place

Published: 07:34, 16 September 2016

M4 at Chieveley and trains to Newbury affected

JOURNEYS this morning may be disrupted because of flooding following last night's storm.

Thames Valley Police and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are responding to a number of reports of flooding in Newbury, Chieveley and Maidenhead.

Police say that there is severe disruption on roads including the M4 at junction 13 (Chieveley).

Motorists are being advised to be vigilant and to only make journeys that are essential.

Police and fire officers are working with the Highways Agency to respond to flooding and officers are assisting with road closures.

The following roads are closed in West Berkshire:

Gaywood Drive Newbury

High Street West Isley

B4494 Oxford Road Donnington

Enbourne Road .

Other roads are affected by floodwater and motorists are advised to take extra care on their journeys.

Train services at Newbury have also been hit (picture taken last night by @surroundie)

The morning after the night before at Newbury Station. Credit to @benwood pic.twitter.com/Nte01R3nD1
— Surroundie 360˚ (@surroundie) September 16, 2016

Great Western Railway has said that due to heavy rain flooding the railway at Newbury all lines are closed.

Train services running through this station may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Newbury will not be served. Disruption is expected until 10am today.

Travel update 9.39am

Services towards Reading/London & Oxford are unable to call at Didcot Parkway. Limited road transport is available between Didcot & Cholsey.
— GWR Help (@GWRHelp) September 16, 2016

There could be more to come as the Met Office has issued amber and yellow rain warnings for West Berkshire.

The met office said: "An area of torrential, thundery rain is expected to develop across the region during early Friday morning bringing the potential for exceptionally large amounts of rain within a few hours. Frequent lightning and hail may be additional hazards."

The amber warning is in place until 10am today.

The yellow warning covering the district is in place until 6pm today.

The assessment said: "Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop more widely across central, southern and eastern parts of England during Thursday night and Friday morning, whilst rain spreading from the west may also turn locally heavy and thundery."

Newbury John Herring