The emergency services are on standby ahead of severe weather expected to hit Cornwall later this morning.

The Met office has issued an amber warning of strong winds and heavy rain today, with more wet conditions expected to hit the Duchy on Saturday and Sunday.

Two week’s worth of rain could fall on the county today, combined with winds gusting up to 80mph.

With flood alerts already in place for the River Fal and Helford River, it is feared the conditions will lead to localised flooding.

There are also flood alerts issued for the St Austell and Par rivers, the Looe, Seaton, Fowey, Tamar, Lynher, and all of north and west Cornwall's rivers.

In light of the forecast, Cornwall Council is asking residents to be prepared and take precautions where necessary.

Officers from Cornwall Council’s Highways, Environment, Fire and Rescue and Emergency Management services are on standby to deal with any problems caused by the severe weather. Crews from the Highways and Environment services have been carrying out preventative works over the past twenty four hours, including clearing drains and monitoring local conditions. The crews have been out since 8am today checking the areas known to be at risk of flooding.

Agencies across Cornwall will continue to monitor the situation over the next few days and if the weather situation deteriorates significantly the Council’s emergency centre at New County Hall will be opened to co-ordinate information and lead any responses required. This will include representatives from a range of partners, including the Police, Environment Agency, Primary Care Trust and Fire and Rescue services.

A council spokesman said: “Anyone whose property is prone to flooding should consider having a supply of sandbags ready to protect their home or business should they need to.

"Sandbags can be obtained from builders merchants, DIY and hardware stores.

“Anyone who is unsure if their property is at risk can check on the environment agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk or call the floodline on 0845 988 1188.

“There are no coastal flood warnings in place as yet, but we would advise people to keep a check on the local weather forecast and take action if necessary.

“Anyone with responsibility for community Christmas lights and decorations should ensure they are properly secured against strong winds and consider turning off Christmas lights if the weather deteriorates.

“We would also advise checking for any damp or damage before turning them back on. Any problems should be dealt with by a qualified electrician.”

For further advice on preparing for flooding visit the environment agency website www.environment-agency.gov.uk or the Cornwall Council website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/flooding

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