Floods prompt biggest peacetime rescue for Britain's RAF

The Royal Air Force (RAF) said Sunday it was carrying out probably its biggest peacetime rescue operation in Britain as its helicopters helped evacuate more than 100 people from flood-hit areas.

The RAF's announcement highlighted the scale of the flooding in central and western England that caused a third day of chaos for motorists and rail passengers and forced hundreds of people to spend another night in shelters.

"I would say it's probably the biggest," RAF Flight Lieutenant Rhona Metcalfe told AFP when asked to confirm reports that it was biggest peacetime rescue operation.

Since exceptionally heavy rains triggered flash floods on Friday, RAF helicopters have flown 55 sorties to rescue stranded people and bring doctors and medical supplies to people who need them, she said.

Aided by a Coast Guard helicopter, two or three RAF helicopters have plucked to safety more than 100 people since Friday, she said.

Though less intense, more rain has fallen during the weekend. The worst flood-hit areas are Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire, counties that lie north and west of London.

In the Gloucester area, the River Severn neared bursting point, as it swelled to its highest levels since floods 60 years ago.

In Gloucestershire, around 2,000 people spent Friday night in emergency shelters after being forced from their cars or homes.

Around 100 people spent a second night in temporary accommodation across the county, but were expected to return home later Sunday, a spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said.

Police said, however, that the situation in parts of the county was improving and flooding was receding in certain areas.

In neighboring Worcestershire, more than 1,000 people spent Saturday night in temporary accommodation.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told reporters in Worcester that the emergency situation was "not yet over."

"There will be further flooding downstream. It is really important that people listen out for warnings."

Barbara Young, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, said such flooding may become more common.

A spokesman for Virgin Trains said two routes were blocked Sunday due to flooding in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Banbury.

Train connections from Birmingham, Britain's second largest city, to the English West Country and the southern coast were cut, he said.

The rail company First Great Western warned that the line from Oxford to Worcester and Hereford was expected to be closed for at least a week with no alternative road transport available.

The Highways Agency said that earlier problems on one of its main roads, the A49 -- which had been closed because of the flooding -- had cleared, and the road has been reopened.

Police were also investigating the possibility that the weather may have played a role in the collision which killed 23-year-old Amith Singh Dhaliwal in Worcestershire on Saturday.