Flood-ready warning issued after summer drought

Residents are being advised to make sure they are ready for possible flooding after months of unusually dry weather.

Reading Borough Council says hard ground created by drought and five heatwaves has increased the risk of flash flooding when heavy rain returns.

People who have been flooded before are being encouraged to take practical steps now, including preparing sandbags and flood plans.

Council leader, Liz Terry, said: "It may seem counterintuitive to be talking about flooding after the long, hot dry summer we have just had, but that is exactly why we are asking residents to take a few sensible steps now."

The authority said weeks of continuous heat had left ground conditions extremely hard, meaning heavy rain could run off the surface rather than soak in.

It warned this could quickly overwhelm local drains and Thames Water surface water sewers, with potentially serious consequences for some properties.

Residents who had previously experienced flooding or flash flooding are being advised to make preparations before the wetter autumn and winter months.

Those steps include storing sandbags, ensuring flood guards are ready to be deployed, planning how vulnerable family members, pets and children could be evacuated, and moving valuable possessions off floors in areas at risk.

The council is also encouraging people to check flood forecasts, sign up for warnings and create a flood plan through government guidance.

Terry said climate change was contributing to more intense rainfall and storms, while neither Thames Water's sewers nor the council's gullies were designed to cope once rainfall reached certain levels.

Reading Borough Council maintains more than 18,000 roadside gullies across the borough and said cleansing, inspections and leaf-clearing work would continue ahead of winter.

However, it said the capacity of Thames Water's surface water sewer network would ultimately determine how effectively rainwater could be removed during prolonged or intense rainfall events.