MAJOR flooding caused chaos on roads across Gloucestershire after heavy rain at the weekend fell onto already saturated ground.

There were numerous instances of flooding across the county as rain continued to pour down.

Stroud District Council said it had distributed over 2,000 sandbags across the district, as people sought to save their homes and businesses from rising water levels.

The meadow at Berkeley Castle, which flooded several times over the summer, causing events like the Berkeley Show to be cancelled, looked more like a lake after last week’s rain.

Police were guiding cars through floodwater on the A38 at Berkeley Heath last week, but the conditions in this area subsequently improved.

Whitminster and Frampton on Severn were deluged with water, leaving some residents choosing to canoe across previously walkable areas.

The Old London Road in Wotton-under-Edge was closed after a landslip left a mound of earth on the road.

Emergency services have been busy responding to calls, monitoring flooding and assessing landslips.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service received more than 190 flood-related call-outs between Friday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 27.

On Tuesday, Gloucestershire Highways teams remained off normal duties as they were all responding to flood-related incidents around the county.

Jon Hall, Chief Fire Officer, said: "We've been able to get support in from neighbouring fire services - West Midlands, Hampshire and Staffordshire - and that's allowed us to respond to the near 200 calls we've had this weekend.

"Our teams have been out talking to residents in affected areas, informing them of any potential issues and offering assistance wherever it's needed."

David Hagg, chief executive of Stroud District Council, said: "Flooding occurred in various parts of the district but the main areas where homes were affected by flooding were Brimscombe, Thrupp and Chalford and the areas along the River Frome and River Cam.

"Council officers, the emergency agencies, parish councils and our major contractors Veolia and Lovells, worked hard over the weekend to keep the district safe and protect people’s homes."

The district council has replenished its stock of sandbags, although weather conditions are set to improve. Rainfall is due to ease off but it is likely to be much colder.