22/12/2012 BBC Weekend News

Good afternoon. Heavy rain is disrupting the road

and rail networks on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

They have been landslides in several areas and four flood

warnings are in place. One of the main rail operators is urging its

passengers not to travel unless their journey is absolutely

essential. Andy Moore reports. Shot by a coastguard team in

Swanage in Dorset, this is the effect of weeks of rain on UN

unstable cliff face. Overnight, Helston was one of the worst-hit

areas. Firefighters did their best to reduce their level of the river

which was on a severe flood alert. In the early hours of the morning,

police officers knocked on doors, urging householders to leave for an

evacuation centre. In the event, very few did. We managed to move

quite a lot out of here actually. Flooding is a miserable experience

that any time of the year, but even more so in the festive season.

not even thinking about Christmas at the minute. There are more

important things than Christmas. The band of cloud swept in

overnight across the British Isles, until nearly all the country was

under heavy, persistent rain. Rail services in the West Country have

been hard hit. In many places, a replacement bus services cannot run

because of flooding on the roads. High on the main line in the West

Country, a temporary dam is being used to keep floodwaters out side

of essential equipment. This is the first time this has been used in

the UK. It has been used in other industry but not the railway.

Great Western is urging passengers not to travel west of Taunton

unless absolutely necessary. And revere trains in Wales has issued

and similar warning. An unusual request from the travel companies

on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Live now to our correspondent, John Henderson, who is in Helston in

Cornwall. How bad is it there? anything, it is getting worse. This

is what an inch and a half of rain overnight has done. Hit has left

this busy street completely flooded. The firefighters have been busy

searching properties, making sure everyone is OK. What they are also

doing is pumping out the street here. They are trying to pump away

this water. But I have to tell you, in the short time I have been here,

this reason -- this water has risen substantially and there is no let

up in the rain. It just keeps raining and getting wet and wetter.

People around here are telling me they are getting quite concerned.

Although this road has flooded before, it has never come up this

high. This is not the only place in Cornwall. Driving conditions have

been very difficult. It has been treacherous.

The Department for Transport is looking into whether new roads

could be paid for by tolls which drivers would pay to private

companies. The idea, which has been suggested before by ministers, is

thought to be one option in the coalition's new programme to be set

out in the coming weeks. The head of the Association of

Chief Police Officers has played down claims of a growing rift

between police and politicians, in the controversy surrounding the

resignation of Andrew Mitchell as the Conservative Chief Whip.

Scotland Yard is now investigating whether police made up allegations

that Mr Mitchell called officers in Downing Street plebs. Live now to

our political correspondent Robin Brant.

What more do we know about this? officers are involved in the

investigation in the aftermath of this confrontation. Two people have

been arrested. One of those is a serving officer who has been

suspended. But the assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan

Police says he does not believe this has changed his original view

of the account. Police officers say they were called plebs. Andrew

Mitchell insists he did not use that word. This dispute continues

three months on. Sir Hugh Orde says he does nothing but a fair means

there is growing evidence of a distrust, but I have to say in the

last hour, there is evidence that you may be a changing. The Police

Federation has revealed it is looking at a major structural

review. Back to me is an admission that they believe they of us as

being involved in what looks to some as being a campaign against

Andrew Mitchell, was damaging to their reputation and was damaging

to trust. Thank you. Up to 13 million shoppers are

expected hit the high streets of Britain today, as they scramble to

finish their Christmas shopping. Retailers are hoping for a boost as

sales in the first two weeks of December are down on last year. But

will the weather affect takings at the tills? Here is our business

correspondent, Theo Leggett. It is being called panic Saturday.

Retailers hope we will rush out to do last-minute Christmas shopping.

There will be more people expected on Sunday. After what has been an

unspectacular start to the shopping season, that would provide a much-

needed boost for businesses. need to make some good sales. The

numbers have been solid. Three days to go, not to play and it is

important are shoppers get out and spend. The bad weather affecting

much of the country has raised fears the big shopping weekend

could turn into a washout. In London, there was little sign of a

last-minute rush. I am amazed how quiet it is. I got here at 9

o'clock, got what I wanted and now I am going home. I am just looking

for my daughter. We are going home at lunchtime, back to Yorkshire.

have left it a bit late. We have done most of our shopping, just a

little treat that the end of the day. But if customers do not turn

out in force, the consequences for retailers could be severe. In the

current harsh economic climate, many are struggling., it became the

latest big name change to close its doors for good --, it. There is no

doubt this has been a difficult idea on the British high street but

what retailers want to see his shoppers turning out in droves