Brunel Tries To Hold Back The Tide

This was the scene this morning at ten o'clock at the Havelock Street entrance to the Brunel Centre. Just before the picture was taken, three or four white-shirted managers surveyed the work with brooms, before vanishing, no doubt for a cup of tea.

Swindon Centric Says ; It's unconfirmed at this hour whether the barricade was an effort to stem the flow of water after the previous half-hour's downpour, or to keep back the tide of low quality shopping in Havelock Square. It's also uncertain if either effort was successful.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses & Boats Last Week

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses and boats from last week.

10. The story is brutal, but the information's all there.

9. Should the water come through the doors like that?

8. You could gondola this route quicker.

7. Getting your carpets wet doesn't qualify you to talk on local news about knowing what the Blitz Spirit is like.

6. It was a walk on part, but she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.

5. There's a conspiracy against my conspiracy, how annoying is that?

4. You'll be able to see what time the next bus is expected, people can't read timetables anymore you see.

3. She sounded deeply unimpressed when I said I'd left my job.

2. If I wear my sunglasses at night I look like Ray Charles.

And the number one sentence overheard on Swindon's Bus and Boat Network last week is...

1. Well, look out, the flooding's going to make the price of peas to go up, start panic buying now.

Have you overheard anything more juicy than pea prices on the bus yet this week? Let us know.

Swindon Does Titanic ; A Town Cut Off

The heavy rain may have stopped and some roads have opened, but the rain of yesterday is still causing major disruption.

- First Great Western began service on the core route between Paddington and Bristol, but no service will run between Swindon and Cheltenham until next week. Even though a very basic service has restarted, FGW has told passengers not to travel due to overcrowding with people trying to get home.

- FGW also cannot offer a bus replacement on those flooded routes, due to flooded roads.

- Most of those 'A' roads that closed yesterday have had their tarmac surface washed away. This includes the A420, and Northbound on the A419.

- The Environment Agency has issued a flood warning to Rodbourne, the River Ray is at risk of flooding.

- 25 people were rescued from a caravan park near Cricklade.

- Swindon received a month's rainfall in six hours on Saturday, reported forecaster Richard Angwin on BBC Points West.

- Personnel from RAF Lyneham helped nearby residents who had been flooded.

Swindon Centric Says ; Is the water going down anywhere?

Swindon Does Titanic ; Do We Have Enough Lifeboats?

- Just as many problems are being caused with roads blocked by abandoned cars as with the flood water.

- The industrial estate at Cheney Manor has had people rescued by raft with water at four feet.

- Good News, it has stopped raining in Swindon!

- The Link Centre shut earlier this afternoon and will be closed for the weekend and should open by next week. The flooding may have damaged the swimming pool.

- Swindon Borough Council has set up additional flood line numbers, these are 01793 464973, 01793 464974, 01793 464975, 01793 464976, and 01793 464978. Its unknown if when on hold they play you 'Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath' down the phone.

Swindon Centric Says ; Last reported, it's not raining men.

Swindon Does Titanic ; Shopping Via Ship-To-Shore

- The Brunel Centre is shut and may not be open tomorrow due to flooding.

- Water is gurgling up through drains all over town with a lot coming up drains in Old Town, which you wouldn't expect with them being on a hill and all that.

- The County Ground is flooded, traffic is being diverted via the Wroughton Park & Ride site, last reported.

- Traffic was gridlocked earlier on in Old Town, taking an hour to get down Kingshill by car.

- Flooding and blocked roads at Cheney Manor, Walcot and Queens Drive.

- Good News; the power was restored to the East side of Swindon following the stream that runs through the Greenbridge Retail Park flooding and flowing into a substation.

- Most taxi firms were not taking bookings, reported about 5pm.

- The River Cole has burst its banks, flooding Merlin Way and Covingham Drive.

- Staff car parks at Honda have been flooded, up to four feet.

Swindon Centric Says ; Anyone for a few run throughs of Ten Green Bottles?

Swindon Does Titanic ; Don't Head For The Hills

A bit more on the heavy rain.

- A landslip on the M4 was reported earlier on.

- There's flooding on the railway between Swindon and Gloucester, at Wootton Bassett, at Box Tunnel, plus between Swindon and Didcot.

- According to BBC Points West, FGW have told passengers for the first time in the company's history not to travel. No services are running to and from Swindon at all, replacement buses cannot be arranged, because of blocked roads.

-Pipers Way is flooded, Commonhead roundabout is under one foot of water, part of the A419 is shut between the South Marston roundabout 15 and the M4 junction 15, last reported under four feet of water.

- Wootton Bassett Road is flooded at the railway bridge and Redposts Drive, with the River Ray at The Running Horse full to the brim.




- Hook Street along Lydiard Park is flooded, with the main event fields at the park looking like lakes.

- The A420 is still shut between Swindon and Oxford at Shrivenham, with queues and people stuck.

- Great Western Way was last reported shut at Bruce Street Bridges, with the roundabouts surrounded by water.

Swindon Centric Says ; Just stay indoors and make a cup of tea, chin up Swindon!!

Swindon Does Titanic ; Late Breaking Edition

Number one, if you're not planning to go out tonight, or this weekend and you live within the Swindon Borough, take it from us...

DON'T GO OUT

- Shops in Swindon town centre are flooded and some of the subways in the town centre.

- The Messenger pub at Covingham is flooded, as is the subway nearby.

- Bus services are partially suspended, with one journey reported on the number 18 taking two hours to get as far as the railway bridge at Sparcells, with police and the military dressed personnel blocking the road due to the canal at Moulden Hill breaking its banks.

- As a result of the above, Thamesdown Drive flooded.

- Numerous power cuts around town, including the closing of the cinema at Greenbridge.

Swindon Centric Says ; Did anyone see the iceberg floating down Rodbourne Road?