Rain-battered Britain is bracing itself for more flooding chaos after forecasters predicted worsening weather conditions across the country.
It will compound misery for those in areas already suffering from severe floods following the downpours earlier this week, which forced hundreds to evacuate their homes and killed a driver. Up to 40mm of rain is expected to fall in some areas by Sunday morning, with winds measuring 70mph on the south coast and 60mph as far inland as London and the East Midlands.
Some 44 flood warnings and 153 flood alerts are in place, with more likely to be issued throughout the weekend, the Environment Agency (EA) said. River flooding is likely with the possibility of significant disruption, particularly across Devon, North Somerset, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Wales, the EA said.
Nearly 400 properties have been flooded since Tuesday, while 9,000 homeowners have been told they are at risk of flooding, it added.
An EA statement said emergency teams had been working through the night and morning to shore up defences, deploy temporary barriers, monitor river levels, clear blockages from watercourses and pump out flood water from towns. EA flood defences have protected 21,800 properties across England and Wales, including in Cheltenham, Teignmouth and Weston-Super-Mare.
Brendan Jones, senior meteorologist at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said the stormy weather could continue into early next week: "Rainfall amounts will increase rapidly through the rest of today and into tonight with as much as 30-40mm of rain expected in some areas. As well as the heavy rain, strong winds are still expected with southern and eastern parts of England worst affected. The winds are likely to be at their peak between midnight tonight and midday tomorrow, gradually shifting from the south coast of England to parts of East Anglia during this time.
"Whilst the heavy rain and strong winds will gradually edge away to the east tomorrow, another autumn storm will fire yet more rain and strong winds from the west across much of England and Wales during Sunday evening and overnight, into Monday morning. The winds will not be as strong within this second system but rainfall will be high once again. Further significant flooding is quite likely where ground is already saturated, particularly across Wales and western parts of England which have already been badly hit over the last few days."
Meanwhile, three elderly people had a lucky escape after being rescued from their car when it was swept down a swollen river in Warwickshire. The incident happened just off the A435 in Coughton Field Lane, Coughton near Alcester, at around 11.30am on Friday. The silver Corsa was carried for more than 500 yards before a local farmer managed to secure the vehicle and bring it to the water's edge, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
A man was also reported missing after falling into a canal in heavy fog. The 50-year-old was walking with friends along a towpath near Wiggenhall Road in Watford shortly after 4am when it is believed he fell in. His friends lost sight of him in the darkness and fog, Hertfordshire Police said.
People should check the Environment Agency website for the latest information: www.environment-agency.gov.uk/flood and sign up for free flood warnings on the Environment Agency's website or by calling the Environment Agency Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
The Press Association, photo by Beta