Britain braced for more flooding

Britain is preparing for further flooding as forecasters suggested this June would be one of the wettest in the last 100 years.

More rain fell overnight across most of the country, adding to the deluges which have swamped northern counties and Scotland and forced families to flee their homes.

Further showers and possible thunderstorms are expected to hit many areas, with the heaviest downpours in Scotland and northern and eastern England.

While these areas are no longer at risk of significant floods, the wet weather is likely to increase the burden on towns and villages as they attempt to clear up after a month's rain fell in 24 hours.

The South West is likely to see the worst of the day's weather, with the area said to be at low risk of flooding caused by heavy rain overnight.

The Environment Agency has issued 23 flood warnings and 68 alerts - of which 22 are in the South West - and the Met Office has issued a "yellow" severe weather warning for the region.

The warnings came after many rivers reached record levels, including the River Calder at Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

The River Yarrow burst its banks in Croston, Lancashire, flooding around 70 homes which had to be evacuated.

Clean-up operations continued in the worst-hit areas, where water levels reached waist-height.

Cumbria, which bore the brunt of the downpours earlier this weekend, saw another 15-25mm of rain fall which is expected to somewhat hamper the efforts to mop up.

Matt Dobson, senior forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association said:

But he offered a glimmer of hope to revellers at the Isle of Wight Festival who can expect a largely dry day.