Flooding forces evacuations

Oxford University stacked sandbags around its music department, but its main classrooms escaped the brunt of England’s worst floods in 60 years as water pushed through the Thames Valley.

The city’s rain-swollen waterways forced nearly 100 residents from their homes and into a stadium. Many residents watched nervously as passing emergency vehicles sent waves lapping toward doorsteps.

Other communities west of London -- such as Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor -- were taking precautions as forecasters predicted water levels would peak there today.