Warnings as up to 40mm of rain set to fall on flood-stricken communities

More "significant" flooding is set to hit already-devastated communities across the north of England as heavy rain is forecast to move in.

The country is braced for more heartache as Storm Frank - the sixth major storm of the winter - is due to move in from tonight, bringing gales and more rain to the stricken region.

Amber warnings of downpours of up to 40mm is predicted to fall across Northern Ireland, west and south-west Scotland, Wales and north-west England by tomorrow - and twice that expected on higher ground.

The Environment Agency warned that with ground still saturated from days of rainfall, and river levels still at record highs, more flooding is likely, particularly in Cumbria and Yorkshire.

There are currently nine severe flood warnings - which signal imminent danger and a possible threat to life - in place across England and Wales, along with 42 flood warnings and 49 flood alerts.

Cumbria has weathered the wettest December on record, with more than 6,700 homes across the north of England under water as river levels reached all-time highs.

York's Foss Barrier failed when the pump room flooded, affecting the power system, but has now been repaired with the help of portable generators delivered by army Chinook helicopters yesterday.

It is now back up and running and water levels have begun to recede, the Environment Agency said.

The agency's director of incident management, Craig Woolhouse, urged people in potential danger zones to stay vigilant.