Parts of the French region of Brittany remain on flooding red alert.

High tides and strong winds have combined to send water flooding through coastal streets and riverside communities in the area. Towns that have been hit include Quimperlé, Morlaix, and Quimper. Some 10,000 homes are without power.

River surge warnings are also in force. The government said it is likely that the weather will be declared a “natural disaster”, which will allow for insurance compensation in most cases.

In Britain flooding which began in the west and south of England is now affecting the north as well. Rain and wind warnings are up for Scotland and Northern Ireland, where the high tide/wind combination has caused considerable damage. Wales is also on alert.

“The police and community workers have been very responsive to it. It’s certainly unprecedented. I’ve been here for 40 years trading and I’ve never seen it like this before,” said one Northern Irish resident as sandbags were stacked around premises.

The bad weather has put into question a recent government decision to cut 1,500 jobs from the Environment Agency, some of which will be flood-protection related.