WILTSHIRE is bracing itself for another weekend of storms after a warning from weather experts.

Now emergency planners at Wiltshire County Council are drawing up plans to evacuate people.

About two inches of rain, the average monthly total, fell on Wiltshire in 48 hours on Sunday. Yesterday a severe flood warning for the upper River Avon through Malmesbury and Chippenham was reduced to a possiblity of flooding.

County council emergency planner David Head said yesterday: "The crisis is abating but we are making contingency plans for more flooding should there be a sudden influx of water over the weekend.

"We are concerned because the land is saturated at the moment and any more water could lead to flooding. We are in the process of identifying a large number of rest centres to evacuate people to, should the need arise."

Driving conditions were treacherous on Monday. Among the worst affected areas were Great and Little Cheverell, the A360 at Potterne, the A342 at Lydeway and Market Lavington and West Lavington.

There were power cuts in the Lavingtons, Easterton, Bishops Cannings and All Cannings after gales hit cables. Power was largely restored on Monday.

Kennet District Council delivered more than 800 sandbags to flood-hit villages including Marston, Great Cheverell, Littleton Pannell and Great Bedwyn.

Several schools were closed, including Holy Trinity at Great Cheverell and All Cannings and Bishops Cannings on Monday due to a combination of power cuts and staff being unable to get in.