26/01/2014 BBC Points West

Good evening from Points West. The Environment Secretary will visit

Somerset tomorrow to see the impact of the floods. His visit comes as

yet more heavy rain is forecast with a Met Office amber warning in

place. Today the Fire Service has taken delivery of two off`road

engines to help crews access homes still cut off by water. Madeleine

Ware reports. This fire engine is used to being

off`road. But not in floodwater Previously used to tackle hill

fires, it has 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. The roads are cut off

and the septic tanks are overflowing. Life is just more

difficult, more time`consuming. 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. It flooded our house and they have taken my life again.

It should not have happened. They told us last year, it was won in

100. And we are here again. What we are saying to the government is that

we now need your help to alleviate problem which is drenched rivers. ``

drainage in rivers. Allow the people in Somerset to do their jobs. If you

give us the money, we can do that. With more heavy rain forecast until

Tuesday, the severe flooding the Environment Secretary will see

tomorrow could get worse. There has 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.

Here's our political editor, Paul Barltrop.

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

Colman hasn't seen much of it. In five years he has 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 is unapologetic. Why make a speech when you know that it is

totally ineffective? That you are talking to a gallery of about six

people? Why did you get elected if you are not going to do anything? It

is not that I'm not doing anything, I am trying to get us out of this

mess. That can only be achieved over here. Being an MEP brings a ?78 000

salary. To get other allowances you have to clock in at the Parliament.

You go to these plenary sessions, you get barely anything out of them,

but is one of the major reasons to go on getting the allowances? I

would not say it is one of the main motivations. It is a factor. Yes, 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 is standing down in May. UKIP will hope his successor

causes less trouble. To sport ` Bristol Rugby's game

against Plymouth Albion has been postponed due to a waterlogged

pitch. In football, it was a mixed bag of

results for our local sides. Bristol City are deep in the

relegation zone after losing to promotion`chasing Wolves. After

going behind early on, Sam Baldock pulled one back from the penalty

spot but it wasn't enough to stop a 3`1 defeat.

Meanwhile, Swindon continued to make progress in the race for play`off

places, beating Shrewsbury Town 3`1. Debutant Michael Smith scored two of

the three goals, including this effort.

In League 2, Bristol Rovers picked up all three points against Newport

County in the Severnside derby. A debut goal from Kaid Mohammed set

them on their way just before half time, before two second`half goals

wrapped up a 3`1 win. Cheltenham's trip to Plymouth ended

in a 1`1 draw, though they'll have been disappointed not to pick up a

win. Byron Harrison put them ahead shortly after half time, but they

were pegged back with just six minutes to go.

And finally to the FA Cup ` Yeovil had their dream of a giant`killing

crushed by Premier League side Southampton. Despite a 2`0 defeat,

it was a somewhat harsh score line on Gary Johnson's side, who were

looking to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1949.

No sign of a letup from the weather. Here is the forecast.

Some colder weather to watch out for tonight. We have wintry showers

Those showers through this evening and overnight. A mix of rain and

sleet but also snow for the hills. We could see some at lower levels at

times. Temperatures will generally drop away. Still a few wintry

showers in the morning, into the afternoon. We are looking at mainly

rain showers but heavy showers possible throughout the day. A few

more showers on Tuesday. Then it becomes a drier and colder picture.

That is it. We are back at 10:2 pm. Have a lovely evening.

Until then, plenty more news on our website. Bye-bye.

Good evening. will keep going through the nights

tonight and as the air turns