Bank holiday is a wash-out as month's worth of rain falls in a day

13 April 2012

The weather washout continued today, with a forecaster saying it was one of the wettest Bank Holidays in recent years as rainfall topped 50mm in some areas overnight.

It is the second Bank Holiday weekend in a row plagued by downpours - May Bank Holiday also proved disappointing for sun worshippers.

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A driver tries to negotiate a flood in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

Britain was also hit by bitter winds and temperatures 10C below average.

Heavy rain caused flooding in some parts of the country and in a dramatic rescue, two helicopters were scrambled to winch three teenage campers out of a tree they had climbed to escape rising flood water.

The youngsters raised the alarm with a mobile phone, after the camping spot they had been staying at was threatened by cascading flood water.

They managed to scramble up a nearby tree on the island where they had set up camp alongside the River Exe, near Exeter, in Devon.

Two of the three boys described their terrifying ordeal.

Matt Caroll, 17, said: "There was no problem getting to the camping spot we'd chosen. It was wet but we thought it was going to clear up and the sky seemed clear.

"We'd been to the spot before and although it's right by the river we thought it was safe. We'd been there about an hour when the rain got heavier and we noticed a puddle on the ground in front of us getting bigger.

"We could see by our torches that the riverbanks were disappearing. It was terrifying when we realised we could not get off by ourselves."

Sign of the times: Motorists negotiate appalling weather conditions on the M27 in Hampshire

His friend Tom Stein, 15, said: "We called the police from one of our mobiles and after a little while they arrived with fire engines and an ambulance.

"They stood across the bank telling us to be calm but it was very difficult. We were perched up in this tree by then and the water was rising quickly.

"There wasn't much ground left and the river was churning - I've never seen it like that before.

"We were relieved when the helicopter arrived.

"It was really scary because the force of the blades was snapping all of the branches and they were hitting us. My parents were really unimpressed because they were so worried. I got a telling off but I think generally they were relieved I was safe."

Matt added: "We will go camping again but I think we'll probably watch the weather forecast first and make sure other people know where we're going."

The three boys, including Billy Pugh, 16, all live in rural Stoke Canon and said that there isn't a lot for people of their age to do in the area.

Local people say large groups of youths camp on the island about 300 yards from Brampford Speke village centre - but there have been problems in the past.

One B&B owner said: "There is a small island which they can camp on. It's not very big and there are a lot of willow trees around it. It is only a few paces from the river bank but the rain must have raised the river levels so far that they panicked and rang for help.

"In a flood they would have been out of their depth even though they only had to walk a few steps to safety."

Four fire crews and a specialist rescue team were dispatched but due to the speed and height of the river, they were unable to reach the terrified teenagers.

A helicopter with winching equipment was scrambled from RAF Chivenor, Devon, while a police helicopter hovered overhead to assist in the rescue operation.

The boys were eventually airlifted to safety at around 7.30am - an hour after phoning for help and they were treated for mild hypothermia and are now sleeping off their ordeal.

A spokesman for Brixham Coastguard, which co-ordinated the rescue, said: "The rain had caused a volume of water to come down off the moors and the boys became trapped so climbed up a tree to safety."

As well as the wet weather, the country has also been subjected to a cold spell. Forecasters said the "unseasonably cold" temperatures generally ranged between 7-10C (44.6-50F), when they would normally be around 17C (62.6F) at this time of year.

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Seeking shelter: Four children brave Brighton Beach

High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire failed to make it above the 5C (41F) mark, although Exeter in Devon was exceptional in managing to reach 15C (59F).

Liscombe in Somerset was drenched in 31mm of rain overnight, and many other places saw around 25mm.

The deluge forced the cancellation of one of the UK's biggest carnivals, which was due to be attended by more than 100,000 revellers.

The Luton International Carnival, which traditionally sees the town centre burst into colour as local communities and groups turn out in costume, was due to take place today but British Transport Police said plans were scrapped because of the bad weather.

The event was due to feature two music stages, street entertainers, more than 100 festival stalls, food traders, funfair amusements and a procession of 2,000 people.

Luton Borough Council spokesman Andy Grays said the cancellation was "very disappointing".

He said: "By midday the road and about 30% to 40% of the park was under water because a lake had burst its banks. A lot of cars would have been stuck.

"There was no chance of anything going on in the park whatsoever."

For the second time this month, Britons have swapped shorts and sunglasses for warm clothes as wet long weekends followed dry and warm snaps.

The forecaster said the best of any sunshine was far west - south west England, west Wales, west Scotland and much of Northern Ireland.

East Anglia was badly hit by the downpours, with three flood warnings and nine flood watches put in place by the Environment Agency today, and Suffolk the worst hit county of the region.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said they had taken more than 50 calls from members of the public about flooded roads, homes and businesses.

The area around Southwold and Ipswich was particularly badly affected, while the rivers Deben, Lark, Minsmere and Yox were among those where water levels were dangerously high.

Today's weather rounds off a miserable weekend, which saw the second day of the popular Spirit of Adventure airshow at Abingdon Airfield in Oxfordshire, featuring Spitfires, Tornados and Hercules aircraft, called off due to heavy rain and low cloud.

Despite tricky driving conditions, the roads were busy over the weekend, according to the AA, which was called out to 11,000 breakdowns on Friday compared to the usual 9,500. Many of the breakdowns were weather-related.

At the airports, around 1.9 million Britons escaped the gloom at home by flying abroad, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

Spain and its islands were the favourite destinations for short-haul travellers, with Florida the most-popular long-haul spot. The top five city-break destinations were Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome and Prague.

Stansted saw 300,000 people flying in and of the airport during the weekend.

For the second time this month, long wet weekends have followed dry and warm snaps. A forecaster for MeteoGroup UK, said this Bank Holiday was one of the wettest across central and southern England - "certainly in recent years anyway".

The most water-soaked place overnight was St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight where 52mm of rain poured down over a 12-hour period between 6pm and 6am.

Liscombe in Somerset was drenched in 31mm of rain overnight, and many other places saw around 25mm, the forecaster said.

The forecaster added: "The best of any sunshine will be far west - south west England, west Wales, west Scotland and much of Northern Ireland."

Today's conditions are more inclement than last year's Bank Holiday, which saw temperatures up to a sunny 17C (62.6F) and the highest rainfall reach 11mm, according to MeteoGroup.

For those making their way back from a Bank Holiday break today, the MeteoGroup forecaster warned of reduced visibility on roads with spray and standing water.

Despite tricky driving conditions, the roads have been busy over the weekend, according to the AA, which was called out to 11,000 breakdowns on Friday compared to the usual 9,500.

"We said that people would still make the most of their weekend and go off in their cars and it looks like we were right," spokesman Gavin Hill-Smith said.

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Singing in the rain: Two little girls try to make the best of their half-term

Sarah Cook, 36, from Reading, who was in the town with family, said: "We had hoped to spend a couple of days on the beach because it is such a nice place to be when the sun is shining.

"But today we didn't want to venture outside our hotel. We have been hopping from one shop to the next to keep dry.

"It's typical to have such awful weather on a Bank Holiday weekend."

The May Day public holiday was similarly wet -despite also coming at the end of a warm spell.

Conditions were so bad in Exmouth, Devon, that the resort's annual sand sculpture competition was cancelled.

Tourism chiefs attempted to put a brave face on things.

A spokesman for VisitBritain said: "People are used to the weather in this country and it's not going to stop them going out into the countryside.

"We also have great indoor attractions for people if it is raining."

The roads have been busy with around 18million vehicles taking trips, according to the AA.

The motoring organisation was called out to 11,000 breakdowns on Friday compared with the usual 9,500.

"We said that people would still make the most of their weekend and go off in their cars and it looks like we were right," said spokesman Gavin Hill-Smith.

He said a number of the problems were caused by vehicles being driven into standing water.

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A wet Bank Holiday walk on Brighton beach as temperatures tumble across the UK

Many of those who ventured abroad for the short break were rewarded with better weather.

The Association of British Travel Agents said a record 1.9million flew away over the weekend, with Spain the most popular European destination and Florida the most popular long-haul spot.

Temperatures on the Costa del Sol reached 25c while Orlando in Florida basked in clear skies and 30c.

But heavy storms, landslides, flash floods and lightning killed at least 18 people in France, Greece, and Turkey.

Nine people died in eastern Turkey, including six killed in severe flooding in mountainous Agri province near the Iranian border, where river waters were swollen by melting snows. Two more people were missing.

In nearby Van province, a two-year-old child died when landslides triggered by heavy rain demolished a house. Two other girls also died and another person was injured after being struck by lightning.

Six hikers died in Greece while trying to cross a river in the south. They were in a group of 18 people swept away by a flood wave in the rain-swollen Lousios river. Prosecutors charged the hike's organisers with involuntary manslaughter.

In France, two divers and a yachtsman drowned on Sunday off the western coast of Brittany in extreme weather.

The yachtsman fell into the sea from his 21-metre boat in heavy seas. The two divers were part of a group of six who were caught up in strong waves. The others made it safely to shore. Extreme weather - including drought, heavy storms, flooding and flash frost - have wreaked havoc across Europe this spring.

Aside from the human toll, it has also destroyed crops and damaged infrastructure in France, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey and other countries.

The poor weather was good news for bookmakers who saw more than the usual number of bets on the Monaco Grand Prix and Football League play-offs.

"Because of the bad weather people stayed on their sofas and watched sport instead," said Graham Sharpe, a spokesman for William Hill.

"As far as we are concerned there's a silver lining to every cloud and it has been pouring with cash for us."

The Met Office said cloud and more rain would linger over much of England today although there would be clearer skies and warmer conditions in the West.

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