26/01/2014 BBC Points West

And that is all your sport. Many thanks. That's it from us.

Good evening from Points West. The Environment Secretary will visit

Somerset tomorrow to see the impact of the floods. With even more rain

forecast the fire service is now using off`road engines to get to

homes still cut off by water. Madeleine Ware reports. This fire

engine is used to being off`road but not in flood water.

Previously used to tackle hill fires, it's been brought out of

retirement to help here on the Somerset levels. Today allowing fire

crews to check homes surrounded by floodwater. We have been flooded for

three weeks. Septic tanks are overflowing. It is terrible. It s

sights like this that the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson

will see on his visit tomorrow. He'll be shown the vast operation to

pump water off the levels. He'll also hear stories of heartbreak and

be told it must never be allowed to happen again. They have flooded our

house. They have taken my life again. It should not have happened.

They told us last year it was a one in 100 chance. This is too late We

are saying to the government that we need your help to alleviate this

problem. We must sort this out and allow the drainage water and the

councils to do their job. Give us some money and we will do that.

With more heavy rain forecast until Tuesday, the severe flooding the

Environment Secretary will see tomorrow could yet, get worse.

A coach load of protesters left the West Country today to take part in

an anti`fracking march in Greater Manchester. Members of Frack`Free

Somerset were planning to join the protesters at Barton moss where land

is being explored for shale gas Demonstrators are determined to

maintain a constant presence against what they say is dangerous practice.

There's been sharp criticism of one of the South West's MEPs over his

performance in the European Parliament. Trevor Colman has one of

the lowest voting records, and admits one of the reasons he goes is

to ensure he gets his allowances. Paul Barltrop reports.

He won election to the European Parliament in 2009, but Trevor

Colman hasn't seen much of it. In five years he's taken part in just

over half of the votes, and made speeches or asked questions just 19

times. The average for the South West's other MEPs is more than 00.

He's unapologetic. Why make a speech when you notice totally ineffective?

You were there talking to a gallery of about six people. Why did you get

elected when you're not going to help? I am not being effect. I am

trying to get us out of this mess. `` being ineffective. Being an MEP

brings a ?78,000. To get other allowances you have to clock in at

the Parliament. You go to these sessions. You barely take part in

them. Did you go because you continue to get allowances? I would

not say it is one of the main motivations. It is a factor. Of

course it is. The result ` ?200 000 of EU money funds an anti`EU

website. Political opponents and even party colleagues complain about

Trevor Colman. He's standing down in May. UKIP will hope his successor

causes less trouble. A water logged pitch meant Bristol

Rugby's game against Plymouth Albion had to be postponed. Are we due more

rain? Time for a weather update had to be postponed. Are we due more

rain? Time for a weather Good evening. Someone tree showers to be

on the lookout for tonight. There is the risk of problems with some ice

on the road. The showers are mix of rain, sleet and snow, particularly

over the hills. We could see a covering of snow on lower levels.

Temperatures will plummet. Watch out for ice first thing tomorrow

morning. There will be someone tree showers initially tomorrow morning.

As we progress through the afternoon, that will turn to rain.

Some of the showers will be heavy. It will be windy with temperatures

around eight degrees. On Tuesday we are looking at further showers.

Towards the end of the week it looks dry and it will turn colder.

Good evening. Today we saw a band of rain clearing eastwards. You can

pick it up