Trains cancelled after station floods

Newbury Station was flooded after heavy rain on Thursday night

Train passengers are being advised to avoid travelling if possible after widespread flooding caused delays.

All four tracks at Newbury Station in Berkshire were still submerged on Friday morning, preventing trains from running between London and Reading via Newbury, and to Devon and Cornwall, Great Western Railway (GWR) said.

The area was also affected by a "serious police incident" near Reading on Thursday night after a person was hit by a train, leading to the closure of that stretch of line.

A major incident related to the flooding was declared by the Thames Valley Resilience Forum on Friday, a West Berkshire Council spokesperson said. Thames Valley Police has been contacted for a comment.

Long queues for taxis formed at Reading Station on Thursday evening

The closure of the line at Reading meant some stranded train passengers had to be put up in hotels for the night.

James Davis, of GWR, said water levels needed to subside and the track had to be inspected before the line could reopen.

Train tickets are being accepted on on alternative routes with other train companies and by some local bus services.

Disruption is expected until Saturday morning.

Cars were abandoned on Poles Lane near Otterbourne as flood levels rose

A number of flood warnings are still in place in Berkshire, including in Twyford, Purley Village, Bucklebury and Hungerford.

There was disruption across the south region, with cars abandoned at the roadside in Otterbourne, Hampshire, which saw the highest total rainfall recorded in the country on Thursday - 35.2mm (4.1ins).

Roads were also flooded in the New Forest, on the Isle of Wight, and at Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole, Fareham, Appleton, Sherborne and Oxford.