Floods threaten celebrity homes

CELEBRITIES last night faced being driven from their riverside homes by rising flood waters.

Actress Kate Winslet, chat show host Michael Parkinson, TV presenter Rolf Harris and Boyzone singer Ronan Keating were all keeping an anxious eye on the skies as weather experts issued more warnings.

Titanic star Kate and husband Jim Threapleton, 26, are hoping makeshift sandbags will protect the pounds 800,000 island house they bought in the summer in Walton-on Thames, Surrey. The only road off the island is impassable after the Thames burst its banks and neighbours less than 200 yards away have been forced to move out.

Kate, 25, gave birth to daughter Mia three weeks ago. Jim said: "If it gets any worse we'll have to think about evacuating. We're just keeping our fingers crossed."

Parkinson and wife Mary were also shifting sandbags as the water in their flooded garden rose swiftly. Parky - tonight due to record his BBC show to go out on Sunday - joked: "I might be swimming to work tomorrow." They have already moved furniture to the upstairs of their home in Bray, Berks, which backs onto the river.

Animal Hospital presenter Rolf, who lives in nearby Maidenhead, might also be swamped. Police had warned 100 houses in the area could be under water in hours. Rolf was away, but was expected back as the flood peaked. A house-sitter said: "The water hasn't yet started to come in."

Boyzone's Ronan was another victim. He has a home in Thames Ditton, Surrey, from where thousands of people have been evacuated.

With the Thames rising three quarters of an inch an hour, an Environment Agency spokesman said: "We've issued warnings to householders living by the river."

TWO trapped terriers were rescued from a flooded 6ft-deep drain 12 days after going missing in North Elmham near Dereham, Norfolk.