150 flood alerts across Britain with more rain to come

PA

After another washout weekend, forecasters predict that rain will continue to fall in heavy bursts all across Britain for at least another week.

The Daily Mail reports that 75 flood warnings and 150 flood alerts are in place across England and Wales, with Devon and eastern Cornwall particularly badly hit.

Yesterday, after more than two inches of rain fell in 18 hours in Devon, the Environment Agency put parts of the River Yealm, Axe and Burton on the highest grade flood warning, which means they pose a 'danger to life'.

The AA reported huge numbers of flood call-outs, with East Devon almost cut off.

Residents of Yealmbridge, Devon now face a huge clean-up operation after the Yealm first its banks and flooded homes with up to six feet of water.

Bridport, Dorset was also badly hit and fire crews have attended more than 60 flooding or water-related incidents.

Residents in the Leicestershire village of Sheepy Magna were evacuated from the homes after flooding and six people had to be rescued from a flooded caravan park in North Yorkshire.

The Express reports that a 20-year-old man died when his car crashed off the A68 in Northumberland, and police have warned drivers to take care as standing water could still cause problems for drivers.

Today, drivers all over the UK are being advised to stay at home as the Met Office is warning of continued heavy rain. The South West is expected to face the worst of the weather, although the south Pennines, north Midlands, Sheffield, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire also remain at risk. There are also 13 flood alerts in Scotland.

Motor racing fans have been advised not to attend the Grand Prix at Silverstone today, as rain has left the carparks unstable and caused major traffic problems.

Craig Woodhouse, the Environment Agency's head of flood incident management, said last night: "We would urge people to remain on alert for flooding, especially in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.

"It has been raining heavily today, and the situation could escalate quite quickly. We would also ask people to remember to stay away from flood water, and do not walk or drive through it, as it is often fast-moving and can contain sewage and other debris."

From tomorrow, the Environment Agency has put England and Wales at 'very low risk' of flooding, although heavy rain could return by the weekend.

Meteogroup forecaster Brendan Jones told the Daily Mail that there is no sign of summer until mid-July at the earliest.

Mr Jones said: "We are fairly confident about what the weather is going to do in the next seven to 10 days.

"I don't think the showers on Tuesday are going to be as heavy as they are on Sunday and Monday.

"But on Thursday, Friday and possibly into the weekend we are just going to see the return of the heavy showers.

"Not in the next 10 days is there anything resembling reasonable summer conditions."

Click on the image below for 20 ways to escape the Olympics...

%VIRTUAL-Gallery-159773%