WEST Somerset residents were bracing themselves for more downpours and flooding as the Environment Agency warned a further 60mm of rain could be on the way as the Free Press went to print yesterday (Thursday).

Emergency services and council contractors were stretched to the limit on Wednesday after overnight rain caused widespread flooding throughout the district and across Somerset.

The A39 was barely passable around Bilbrook and Dragon's Cross while police closed the road at Nether Stowey and Cannington due to deep floodwater.

The A358 between Minehead and Taunton remained opened, but floodwater caused problems for motorists both at the Norton Fitzwarren end and on the approach to Williton around Woolston Moor and Sampford Brett.

Events were cancelled across the district and Somerset County Council postponed its full council meeting - although West Somerset Council's meeting went ahead as planned late on Wednesday afternoon.

Numerous schools were closed, including Old Cleeve First School and the West Somerset Community College.

Minehead's middle and first schools closed at lunchtime, while pupils attending Danesfield and St Peter's in Williton were advised to stay at home.

Williton's recycling centre was shut due to flooding and local grounds maintenance staff from West Somerset Council found themselves helping police form a roadblock to keep motorists away.

The council's six grounds maintenance staff were praised by bosses for working "flat out" from 7am on Wednesday morning as the impact of the overnight rain began to hit home.

They manually filled sandbags at the Brunel Way Depot and made numerous deliveries around the district, dropping off sandbags at Quay West in Minehead and the Roughmoor Industrial Estate in Williton.

They also worked to try and keep roadside gullies and culverts clear of debris and were boosted by additional staff from the authority's estates' team and contractor Veolia.

The fire service dealt with flooding incidents across the region, including incidents in Exton, Bilbrook, Washford and Williton.

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service advised people only to travel if it was absolutely necessary and said staff had dealt with more than 300 calls in eight hours.

"We have attended 51 incidents due to flooding, as well as 18 rescues from vehicles caught in floodwater, one involving two people who were attempting to rescue cattle.

"We have also assisted the ambulance service with a person who was diabetic and was caught in flood water, and we had 42 pumping appliances in use across the region."

The spokesman urged motorists not to drive through floodwater and warned that cars could easily get swept away in just two feet of water.

Bosses at Hinkley Point B nuclear power station said they were keeping the weather situation under review but were confident robust plans were in place to ensure the safety of both staff and equipment.

A spokesman for owner EDF Energy said the B station had continued to operate normally on Wednesday and the site had not been affected by the flooding seen elsewhere.

He said: "There was some localised flooding in the surrounding villages, but access roads to the site remained open and were passable with care.

"Appropriate contingency measures are being put in place to allow our employees to enter and leave the power station should weather conditions deteriorate.

"Safety is the top priority at Hinkley Point B power station and this has not been compromised by the exceptional flooding that has occurred in parts of Somerset."

Somerset Waste Partnership said its contractors were also managing but advised residents to check the organisation's website at http://www.somersetwaste.gov.uk">www.somersetwaste.gov.uk for the latest updates.

The site also included advice on what to do if collections were missed due to adverse weather conditions.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said the wet weather looked likely to continue for the next few days and estimated around 50 mm of rain had fallen on Wednesday night.

Kevin Ward of the agency said: "The current unsettled spell of weather is set to continue up to Sunday with further spells of heavy rain expected on Thursday through to Friday morning.

"We would urge everyone to keep up to date with forecasts and warnings and to be prepared for what the weather will bring."

He said the ground was already saturated and by Wednesday afternoon, the region had 54 flood warnings and 54 flood alerts in place.

Although much of the floodwater subsided during the day, the region remained on standby as the worst of a second band of torrential rain and high winds was due to hit yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

As the Free Press went to print yesterday lunchtime, there were 48 flood warnings and 55 flood alerts in the South West.