Oxford residents evacuated as UK flood waters rise
By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - The River Thames burst its banks on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes in the university city of Oxford in Britain's worst floods for 60 years.

About 350,000 people faced two weeks without running water, the insurance bill could soar to 3 billion pounds ($6.2 billion) and farmers say harvests have been badly hit.

Oxford became the new frontline when rivers feeding into the Thames spilled over into its streets, forcing police to evacuate 250 homes.

Environment Agency officials warned that the river had not yet peaked and said more rain was expected.

But as the flooding spread along the river, officials said Queen Elizabeth's residence at Windsor Castle was not threatened and no property flooding was expected in London -- although heavy storms could always cause flash flooding. the rest

Tewkesbury Abbey stands in what has become a "medieval island parish" above the flood line