A SECOND flood warning has been issued on the River Thames this morning, in the west of Oxfordshire.

It covers the section of the river from from Buscot Wick to Shifford, including Buscot, Kelmscott, Radcot, Bampton and Chimney.

The Environment Agency said the water level had been rising steadily at St Johns, Radcot and Rushey locks and that property flooding close to the river was possible around St Johns Lock later today. The river is expected to continue to rise over the next 24 hours.

The warning follows one issued yesterday evening for the Thames and its tributaries in Oxford, covering Botley, West Oxford, New Hinksey, North Hinksey and Grandpont.

City and county council staff are delivering sand and sandbags to the Redbridge park-and-ride centre off Abingdon Road and the Seacourt park-and-ride centre at Botley for use by residents and businesses at potential risk of property flooding.

Pallets of sandbags are also being delivered to the Duke of Monmouth pub in Abingdon Rd and to South Hinksey, where the collection point will be at the farm opposite the village hall. All four of the sites should be operational by 1pm.

A number of towpaths in Oxford are now closed by flooding and people are advised to obey any warning or closure signs.

A flood warning is the second stage in the Environment Agency's three-stage flood warning system and means that flooding is expected and householders and businesses should take immediate action to protect their properties.

For the latest information on flood alerts, see environment-agency.gov.uk or call the Floodline on 0845 988 1188.