Flooding and heavy rain hits Britain

Houses in Angmering, West Sussex, surrounded by flood water. Credit: Kevin Hawkey

Rain battered Britain is continuing to suffer a summer soaking with renewed risks of further flooding, the Environment Agency has warned.

The misery is set to continue with the number of flood alerts soaring for southern England and Wales, with forecasters revealing there will be no respite from the rain over coming days.

The EA said there is a "continued" risk of surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains across parts of London, East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

51 flood alerts have been issued across England and Wales and seven flood warnings - for:

  • River Ouzel at Leighton Buzzard

  • River Mole at Charlwood and Hookwood including Povey Cross Road and Gatwick Airport, West Sussex and Surrey

  • The Barnham Rife at Barnham, including the B2233, Lake Lane, Orchard Way, and Downview Road, West Sussex

  • The Aldingbourne Rife at Bersted, including Addison Way, Riverside Caravan Park, and the South Bersted industrial estate, West Sussex

  • The Aldingbourne and Lidsey Rifes at Felpham, including the Whitfield Close, the A259, Links Avenue, and Butlins Holiday Centre, West Sussex

  • River Colne in Colney Heath, Hertfordshire

Further flood alerts are expected for the South West later amid forecasts of torrential downpours in Torbay and South Devon. There are no severe flood warnings, the highest alert, which mean there is an immediate danger to life.

The flooding has already wreaked havoc across parts of the country, causing the closures of roads and a hospital.

A canoeist makes best use of the conditions in Chaffer Lane, Birdham, West Sussex. Credit: Georgina Lamb

Emergency cases at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex were diverted to neighbouring Brighton and Chichester for several hours overnight because of flooding.

ITV News' Lewis Vaughan Jones reports on the flooding:

Meanwhile, a special disaster fund is to be set up after more than 1,500 people were evacuated and 150 rescued in Mid Wales over the weekend.

Water up to five feet gushed through homes and businesses in Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd, with the clean-up and insurance costs expected to run into millions of pounds.

Nearby residents from the village of Pennal, near Machynlleth, Powys, mid Wales, were also evacuated last night following a breach in the dam of a quarry. They were taken to Machynlleth Leisure Centre and other temporary refuges.

The Environment Agency warned people to remain vigilant and check its website and Twitter feed for the latest situation. The agency added that the public was "strongly" advised to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through floodwater.