:00:00. > :00:12.the very latest on the dramatic day's events in
:00:13. > :00:16.Good evening from Points West. The Environment Agency says it has
:00:17. > :00:20.taken an important step in its battle to clear floodwater from the
:00:21. > :00:24.Somerset Levels with the opening of a sluice gate which diverts water
:00:25. > :00:27.out of the River Parrett. It could speed up efforts to get pumps
:00:28. > :00:29.switched back on, although some residents are worried that the
:00:30. > :00:37.diverted water might flood their homes.
:00:38. > :00:40.A small audience for this critical stage in draining the flooded levels
:00:41. > :00:48.as workers arrived to raise the Monksleaze sluice gate ` a few miles
:00:49. > :00:52.from Langport. It went up 30 centimetres, enough to release a
:00:53. > :00:59.torrent of water out of the River Parrett. Water is now being diverted
:01:00. > :01:09.out of the river. This water will end up in the drain via the Dutch
:01:10. > :01:13.pumps and eventually out to see The hope is that water levels on the
:01:14. > :01:16.Rivers Parrett and Tone will now drop, eventually allowing pumps to
:01:17. > :01:19.be switched on, pumps which will help drain the moors. But some
:01:20. > :01:28.living near the sluice gate are worried that their homes will flood.
:01:29. > :01:32.We have had a lot of flooding over this entire area since Christmas.
:01:33. > :01:40.This is the first day the waters have receded. Let's hope it is under
:01:41. > :01:43.control. In nearby Aller, a dam has been constructed to protect homes.
:01:44. > :01:48.It's a precaution, and the Environment Agnecy was today keen to
:01:49. > :01:53.reassure residents. We believe there will be no flooding but we have put
:01:54. > :02:00.in place a contingency. We will monitor and have people on the
:02:01. > :02:03.ground. We have automatic monitoring points and if we see any
:02:04. > :02:08.deterioration we will be closing the system down. Overnight, water levels
:02:09. > :02:12.on the moors dropped, allowing the sluice gate to be opened a day
:02:13. > :02:15.early, a rare bit of good fortune for those whose job it is to get
:02:16. > :02:19.roads reopened and flooded homes pumped dry.
:02:20. > :02:25.Meanwhile, efforts continue to help those affected by flooding.
:02:26. > :02:29.Volunteers driving 4x4s that can get through the waters are out every day
:02:30. > :02:33.right across the Levels, taking food, medical supplies and petrol.
:02:34. > :02:39.11 days at work in a row, David and Mary refuse to take a break. I think
:02:40. > :02:43.yes, because they've been doing that run through Thorney to Muchelney.
:02:44. > :02:49.They're part of a team of 200 volunteers who have spent the past
:02:50. > :02:53.seven weeks on call. It's a lifeline to some people, because we've been
:02:54. > :02:57.taking people like carers to people that need them twice a day. Someone
:02:58. > :03:01.had to go to the doctor's, so we go in, get them out, get them to the
:03:02. > :03:05.doctor's, which they wouldn't be able to do otherwise. Today was not
:03:06. > :03:08.an emergency, but this delivery was gratefully received. Wessex have
:03:09. > :03:13.kindly delivered me some wellies, much needed for the amount of water
:03:14. > :03:17.that we've got out and about. So yeah, it's a way of getting
:03:18. > :03:25.resources to us when we're cut off. Cut off but not forgotten.
:03:26. > :03:28.To sport, and in the Winter Olympics, the West's last hope for a
:03:29. > :03:31.medal is taking place right now John Jackson, who lives near
:03:32. > :03:38.Trowbridge, pilots Team GB1, one of two four`man bobsleigh crews. They
:03:39. > :03:39.started well are are currently in tenth place, behind the leaders
:03:40. > :03:45.Russia. Football: Yeovil secured a crucial
:03:46. > :03:49.win as they beat Doncaster 1`0. Swindon Town lost 2`0 at Leyton
:03:50. > :03:53.Orient. And Bristol City are back in the the relegation zone after losing
:03:54. > :03:56.3`0 at Sheffield United. Better news for Cheltenham: they won away at
:03:57. > :04:00.Newport. To the rugby, and good results for
:04:01. > :04:04.both our teams. Bath secured a bonus point as they beat Wasps 32`25 at
:04:05. > :04:06.the Rec. And Gloucester gained their first Premiership victory since
:04:07. > :04:11.December, beating Harlequins at Kingsholm 25`20.
:04:12. > :04:14.It's been a dry and sunny day for most of us. Here's Emily Wood with
:04:15. > :04:18.the forecast. Hello. After some fine and sunny
:04:19. > :04:21.weather today, we do have some more cloud and some outbreaks of rain to
:04:22. > :04:24.come tonight. Everywhere clouding over through this evening, and we'll
:04:25. > :04:27.see these outbreaks of rain through the night, along with the
:04:28. > :04:30.south`westerly winds continuing to strengthen, as well. It is, though,
:04:31. > :04:34.a fairly mild night, with temperatures widely no lower than
:04:35. > :04:38.seven or eight degrees. To start off with, though, tomorrow morning, it
:04:39. > :04:41.is going to be quite cloudy and damp, still with some outbreaks of
:04:42. > :04:44.rain along with some strong and gusty south`westerly winds. Into the
:04:45. > :04:48.afternoon, we'll see a little bit more in the way of dry weather, and
:04:49. > :04:51.another very mild day tomorrow, with temperatures up to 11 or 12 Celsius.
:04:52. > :04:55.Overnight Sunday into Monday, we'll see some rain for a time. That rain
:04:56. > :04:59.then clears on Monday to a few showers, but it looks like we'll see
:05:00. > :05:04.further wet and windy weather on Tuesday.
:05:05. > :05:13.And Bath's Lizzy Yarnold will be Team GB flag bearer at the Olympic
:05:14. > :05:21.Hello. For some places today I am sure it felt that spring is just
:05:22. > :05:26.around the corner. However, looming large, coming in from the Atlantic,
:05:27. > :05:27.this broad belt of cloud and this will bring rain to