UK feels Frank's fury as severe flood warnings issued

Hundreds of households across the north of England and Scotland were evacuated on Wednesday as winter Storm Frank swept across the Irish Sea dumping more rain on already flooded areas.

The Environment Agency issued three severe flood warnings in Lancashire – these indicate a danger to life. There were a further 46 warnings of imminent flooding and 97 alerts warning people to be prepared for rising water levels near them.

Northern Ireland felt Frank's fury on Tuesday night with thousands of homes suffering power cuts. Ferries to mainland Britain were cancelled while flights were also grounded.

In Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway region, the village of Carsphairn was cut off and fire crews have been rescuing people from 30 properties by boat. The River Nith has also spilled over its banks causing flooding in the town of Dumfries and a severe flood warning has been issued for the Whitesands area, the BBC reported.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued 50 flood warnings and 14 flood alerts for Angus, Dundee, Tayside and Dumfries.

The Met Office said rain should clear from western and northern areas through the morning, spreading eastwards then slowly clearing from southeastern Britain during the evening.

"Clearer weather will follow into the northwest of the UK later. Windy throughout with gales, locally severe, these generally easing later in the day too," it added.