Weather warnings remain following floods

Weather warnings remain in place today following heavy rain that devastated many areas in the South West over the weekend. Properties across Devon, Somerset and Dorset were flooded and many roads impassable after several inches of rainfell overnight into Saturday causing rivers to swell.

The clean up operation has long since started, but as the heavy showers continue to batter the region, a yellow rain alert from the Met Office has been maintained until midnight. Scattered heavy showers are expected to continue to develop throughout this afternoon and evening.

The Met Office has warned that up to 30mm of rain could fall within a few ours in some places. With rivers and streams already swollen and fields wet it could cause localised flooding.

Yealmpton in Devon was one of the worst areas affected. Forty homes were flooded when the River Yealm burst its banks and reached a record high of seven and a half feet. Ottery St Mary and Modbury in Devon and Burton Bradstock near Bridport in Dorset were also badly hit.

Some motorists had to be rescued from their cars as river levels on the Brit and Asker breached the banks.