国际英语新闻:Environment agency warns of significant flooding in N. England

LONDON, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rain will sweep across the northern parts of Britain later on Christmas Day and continue over the weekend, the Environment Agency warned on Friday.

The Environment Agency warned that communities in the north of England need to prepare for flooding later today and the Boxing Day, as more rain is expected to hit these areas.

It said Cumbria is the area most at risk from further river and surface water flooding, while parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire also at risk. There is also the potential for some flooding along parts of the River Severn in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and Worcestershire over the weekend and into Monday.

Additional sandbags, demountable barries and pumps have been prepared for potentially more flooding and to help affected local communities, the Environment Agency said.

"People are working round the clock, and through Christmas Day, to help communities prepare. We have over 700 Environment Agency staff ready to respond. The military have been deployed, working alongside Environment Agency," said Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss, who chaired a meeting of British government's COBR committee on Friday.

Troops from the area's local regiment, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, were busy building flood defences as local rivers threatened for the third time in weeks to burst their banks in the worst hit areas, Cockermouth, Keswick and the county capital city, Carlisle. As well as erecting flood defence gates the soldiers were also positioning sandbags to hold back floodwaters, according to the Ministry of Defence.

British meteorologic department confirmed that in the worst-hit county in northwest England, Cumbria has undergone the wettest December on record since records began in 1910. Many roads and properties have been inundated for several times since December 1.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Agency also said that high tides are expected around Christmas in parts of the south and west coast of England. It advised people to take special care near coastal paths and promenades.