Flooding alert in east of France

TEN departments in the east of France are on an orange weather alert - the second highest of four levels - this morning because of a high risk of flooding.

The warning from Météo France is in place until at least 6.00 on Saturday and applies to the Ain, Haute-Marne, Côte-d'Or, Isère, Loire, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Haute-Saône, Doux and Jura.

Storms and heavy rain are forecast today along the Rhône valley and its tributaries, from the northern Alps to the Franche-Comté region - up to 7cm in parts.

Météo France says secondary roads and railway lines could be affected by flooding.

The Saône river in Lyon is particulary high, as are the Isère and Rhône around Valence.

The weather warning could further hamper the search for a young boy who disappeared earlier this week when he fell into a river while trying to fetch a football and has yet to be found.