Flood Alert As Heavy Rain Sweeps The Country

Britain is braced for another day of deluges and flooding as heavy rain sweeps across the country.

Homes were flooded and roads left underwater on Wednesday as downpours caused widespread disruption, and forecasters have warned more misery is on its way.

Vehicles were abandoned and news reports said entire villages had been cut off as floodwater surged through lanes and streets and into homes.

The South West and Wales were bearing the brunt of the weather as a low pressure system moves eastwards across the country, bringing gusts of up to 70mph and extremely heavy rain.

The Met Office warned that some areas could see up to 60mm (5ins) of rain falling on already saturated ground, leading to further risk of rivers flooding.

Strong winds could yet worsen conditions, particularly surface water flooding, as leaves and debris block drains and channels.

Flood waters surrounding a cottage close to the village of North Curry

Commuters were faced with widespread delays and some cancellations, including at London Paddington where some trains to south west stations were scrapped. Minor delays were reported on cross-Channel ferry crossings from the Port of Dover in Kent.

The Environment Agency says more than 75 flood warnings – when flooding is expected -- are in place, most of them in the South West and the Midlands, and a further 153 less serious flood alerts have also been issued.

Agency teams are on the ground across the country clearing watercourses of debris and monitoring river levels, and will be out in force over the coming days. A wall of gravel bags on the flood "frontline" has been erected in Comrie, in the Scottish highlands.

Pete Fox, the Environment Agency's head of flood risk strategy, said: "There is already significant travel disruption due to the wet weather and we would urge people to remain vigilant as further flooding is possible across the South West."

Cars make their way through floods in the village of Norton near Worcester

The heaviest rain, torrential at times, is expected over Wales and western England by early evening.

Sky News weather presenter Sarah Pennock said driving conditions would be difficult across western Britain, with plenty of surface water and possibly some broken branches on the roads.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has criticised a decision to allow a ship carrying hundreds of sheep to set sail across the English Channel in such bad weather conditions.

RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said the crossing amounted to torture and added: "It is barbaric that animals are at sea on open decks in these appalling weather conditions. This ship is designed to work in rivers, not in the open sea."

Gravel bags in Comrie Perthshire

Friday should be bright and breezy, with sunny spells and scattered showers in the west, before further rain pushes into central southern Britain on Saturday.

There could be snow across the Scottish hills overnight.

The weather caused major problems on the roads yesterday, with the AA attending more than 8,000 breakdowns - 37% more than normal - and 500 floodwater-related callouts by 4pm.

Dozens of schools were closed, including 12 in Devon and 17 in Somerset, two of the worst-hit counties, and businesses including pubs and restaurants forced to turn away customers following the floods.

Emergency services in Somerset were also called to a flooded property to help rescue a woman who had gone into labour and needed to get to hospital.

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