Flooding misery spread across Britain today as hundreds of people were evacuated, rail lines were blocked and a major incident was declared amid torrential rain.
Major rivers including the Thames and Trent broke their banks in places with the Environment Agency issuing more than 600 flood alerts or warnings in England.
Trains on Great Western Railway, Southern, South Western Railway and Southeastern were blocked today due to a mixture of flooding, landslips and trees on the line.
In East London, 50 people were evacuated after streets turned into rivers in Hackney Wick with ten fire engines and 70 firefighters called to the scene when water started racing down the banks of the canal into residential streets and ground floor flats.
And Nottinghamshire County Council declared a major incident 'due to rising levels along the River Trent', telling residents in flood-risk areas to prepare to evacuate.
Today, there were 302 flood warnings and 332 alerts across England as well as 13 alerts and two warnings from Natural Resources Wales - giving a UK total of 649.
Residents evacuated from severe flooding in UK
Following 40 days of continuous rain, showers continued into this morning affecting parts of south-western and eastern areas as well as parts of Wales and Scotland.
But the weather is set to improve this weekend - with more settled, colder conditions moving in and bringing an increased chance of sunshine and frosty nights.
Floods chaos spreads across the UK: Thames and Trent break their banks to force hundreds of evacuations with 302 flood warnings in place - as rail firms cancel services with 'train routes resembling rivers' after a biblical 40 days of rain
Floods chaos spreads across the UK: Thames and Trent break their banks to force hundreds of evacuations with 302 flood warnings in place - as rail firms cancel services with 'train routes resembling rivers' after a biblical 40 days of rain
Stefan Laeger, of the Environment Agency, said: 'Significant surface water and river flooding impacts are possible across parts of the Midlands and the south and east of England due to heavy localised rainfall falling on already very saturated catchments.
'Ongoing minor impacts are also likely across much of England over the next five days as some larger rivers slowly respond to recent and forecast rain.'
It comes just days after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.
Nottinghamshire County Council said forecasts were showing that peaks along the River Trent could 'come close to the highest levels on record from the year 2000', adding that residents in areas along the Trent valley should be 'prepared for flooding'.
A man stranded on his shed roof by floodwater was rescued by a crew from Highfields Fire Station who used a boat to bring him safely to land.
In a statement, the council said: 'Key tributaries which feed in to the river Trent, including the river Derwent, the river Soar and the river Dove, have already reached their peaks and high water levels will now pass down the Trent, which is likely to lead to flooding to
properties and roads.
'Residents who live in the flood-risk areas are being asked to ensure they have preparations in place in case they are asked to evacuate.
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