Heavy rain brings travel disruption with trains cancelled and stadiums flooded
ITV News Correspondent Neil Connery reports on the damage caused by flooding in parts of the UK
Parts of England and Wales were lashed by heavy rain and flooding in the early hours of Friday.
The Met Office issued an amber weather warning for much of England from 6pm on Thursday until 6am on Friday.
A yellow rain warning persists for large parts of England and Wales before the wet weather will finally ease in the afternoon.
Areas covered by the latest weather warning include Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands which could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the Met Office.
As of 6am, the Environment Agency had 63 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 121 flood alerts.
The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) says the South East, East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England could see lightning and even “isolated brief tornadoes”.
Watch as flooding trapped drivers on the M5 near Bristol this morning
Here's the latest weather updates from across the country
South West England
The M5 motorway in South Gloucestershire is closed in both directions due to severe flooding.
Fire crews were called in the early hours of Friday to help rescue drivers from their cars.
The motorway has reopened southbound between J14 and J15 but hour-long delays and up to four miles of congestion were still expected both ways.
The pitch at the SEAH Stadium in Wellington, home to Telford United football club, was completely flooded on Thursday evening.
Tewkesbury Borough Council, in Gloucestershire, has been handing out sandbags to help people protect their homes against flooding.
West Midlands
Images on social media showed tracks at Wellington train station in Shropshire completely submerged
Rail services between Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Wolverhampton were cancelled, with disruption expected all morning.
This came after reports of severe flooding at Wellington station and a tree failing on the line earlier.
East England
Flooding delayed trains between Peterborough in the east Midlands and London King’s Cross.
The Marston Vale line in Bedfordshire, which operates between Bedford and Bletchley, is suspended until Monday due to standing water on the track.
The A421 was expected to remain closed in both directions on Friday between the A6 Bedford and M1 junction 13 near Marston Moretaine, as floodwater continued to be pumped clear from the junction.
Ten schools are closed in Bedford according to the borough council.
Parts of Hitchin and Solihull were struck by flooding with Hertfordshire Constabulary confirming the closure of Cambridge Road in Hitchin town centre.
Firefighters have been assisting residents after knee-deep floodwater entered their homes in the town.
At least 20 properties on Green Lane were affected following heavy rainfall overnight.
Hitchin saw over 49mm of rain in the past 24 hours, nearly matching the September average of 55.4mm.
South East England
All lines were blocked between Bicester North and Banbury in Oxfordshire, with disruption expected until 3pm.
East Midlands
Councils and emergency services in Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire said there were a number of road closures and they were working to keep people safe overnight.
London
The capital has experienced heavy rain over the past few days, causing some travel disruption.
A spokesperson for the RAC warned drivers to be “aware of the increased risks of flooding”, adding: “Never attempt to drive through floodwater. If a road appears flooded, the safest thing to do is turn around and find another route.
“Wet roads also increase the likelihood of aquaplaning, where a vehicle’s tyres glide on top of a thin layer of water, losing grip on the road and causing a loss of control. We strongly advise drivers to keep their speeds down and avoid standing water wherever possible.”
What has the Met Office said?
The forecaster said that the rain will fall into the ground that is already "saturated" with travel disruption and further flooding likely.
“Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight," the Met Office said.
“Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours."
Parts of the country saw more than the monthly average rainfall on Monday.
Around 385 properties were flooded in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Kent and the Home Counties, according to the Environment Agency.
Kate Marks, flood duty manager at the agency, said: "We urge people to plan their journeys carefully, follow the advice of local emergency services on the roads and not to drive through flood water.
"People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X for the latest flood updates."
Weather in the coming days
Once the rain clears on Friday afternoon, conditions become much colder on Saturday.
The Met Office issued a new yellow weather warning for strong winds, potentially disrupting the southwest of England and Wales on Sunday.
Winds will strengthen from west to east during Sunday, with gusts of 50-55 mph likely in places, exceeding 60mph in the most exposed areas.
The forecaster said the strong winds will be accompanied by occasional heavy rain, which could cause some surface water and spray.
Winds will ease across Wales and in south west England on Sunday evening, but it may stay fairly windy along southern and southwestern coasts overnight.
Delays are likely for road, rail, air, and ferry transport, as well as disruptions to bus and train services.
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