Video: Weather: Great Western Canal breaches its banks Several homes were evacuated after torrential rain and gale force winds caused water to breach the banks of the 200-year-old Great Western Canal in Halberton. The main road through the Devon village was closed whilst work to stabilise the waterway was undertaken. The video emerged as the Met Office predicted gales of around 40-50mph would affect much of England, Wales and southern Scotland on Saturday and Sunday, with gusts of up to 70mph. The forecast came after a man died on Thursday night when his car was wedged under a bridge near a ford amid the deluge. Emergency services were called to the incident in Chew Stoke, Somerset, just before 9pm but the man was found dead. An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said the force was still trying to identify the man and his next of kin.