The government's emergency response committee has met amid fears a power substation supplying thousands of homes in Gloucester may be lost to flooding.

The Cobra meeting came amid mounting concern the Walham station cannot be saved and as many as 250,000 people could lose power and water supplies.

Gordon Brown has assured the area of government support if it closes.

Residents along the Thames in Berkshire and Oxfordshire are bracing themselves for possible flooding overnight.

Almost 350,000 homes are without running water and some 50,000 are without power as the flooding crisis continues in central and west England. It is understood the prime minister has spoken to Gloucestershire Chief Constable Tim Brain about the threat to the substation.