River Severn Severe Flood Warning Issued

The Environment Agency told residents living near the River Severn to "take action now" as it issued a severe flood warning.

The warning for Alney Island near Gloucester comes ahead of a new storm, which is due to sweep across Britain later today.

A peak of 4.7 metres in the water level was expected overnight, with levels already at 4.46 metres by 5pm on Thursday.

The warning said: "A severe flood warning has been issued due to the potential flooding of houses and static homes from the overtopping of flood defences at Alney Island."

Alerts for the Severn in Worcestershire have been in place for days with the river reaching its highest level since records began.

A lot of money has been spent on defences on the river since the massive floods of 2007.

After the hurricane force winds of Wild Wednesday, many areas will see gusts of 60-80mph as well as heavy rain and snow - with Wales and the South West likely to be hit the hardest.

Flooding continues on the Somerset Levels and Moors and there is still a high risk of coastal flooding in Dorset.

The River Thames is also predicted to rise to its highest level in more than 60 years.

So far, there are 14 severe flood warnings - meaning there is a danger to life - in place for the South East, covering regions close to the Thames.

Two further severe flood warnings are in place for the South West and one for the Midlands.

Some 350 flood warnings and alerts are also in place for the rest of the UK, meaning people in the affected areas are urged to take immediate action or to be prepared.

Trowlock Island, Teddington, Hampton, and Hampton Wick in Richmond upon Thames were placed on flood warnings or alerts on Thursday by the Environment Agency.

More than 2,000 personnel from the Army, Navy and RAF have been drafted in to deal with the ongoing crisis.

They will help with filling and distributing sandbags, erecting barriers, assisting residents and examining the condition of existing flood defences.

The military will also be sending a Tornado GR4 jet to take surveillance pictures of the flooding.

Some 70% of the fire and rescue service in England and Wales are now involved in the relief effort - the largest deployment since the Second World War.

43,731 homes are still without power after gusts of up to 108mph battered parts of the country on Wednesday.

One elderly man died as he tried to move a tree near Chippenham, in Wiltshire, and hundreds were stranded as transport networks were hit.

The Government will review flood defences after waters have receded with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg promising to make a "lasting change".

He said he backed dredging in rivers where it could make a difference, but warned that it should not be viewed as a "magic wand" solution.

Since early December, 5,800 properties have flooded across the country in what army chief Major General Patrick Sanders described as an "almost unparalleled" natural crisis.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

:: Sky News has a special programme dedicated to the floods crisis every night this week at 7pm.

:: You can also watch Storm Nation Special tonight at 8pm on Sky 1 (Sky channel 106).

:: Email your photos and videos of the floods to news@sky.com.