Heavy rain alert upgraded for areas hit by flooding

Billing Aquadrome in Northamptonshire has already been submerged in floodwater and more heavy rain has been forecasted

A warning of further heavy rain has been upgraded for parts of the East of England already affected by flooding.

The Met Office has announced a new amber alert for Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire between 18:00 BST on Thursday and 06:00 on Friday.

It previously issued a yellow warning for the areas, which remained in place for Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk until 09:00 on Friday.

The Met Office said its fresh warning meant the bad weather could "affect communities recovering from recent flooding".

Heavy rain was expected to fall across large patches of the UK from Thursday evening

It said: "Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears."

It meant properties could be flooded, communities cut off by submerged roads, routes closed, public transport disrupted and power cuts or other utilities affected.

Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms were expected to develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain during the evening, before clearing south.

For areas affected by the amber warning, about 30 to 40mm (1.18 to 1.57in) of rain could fall in three hours or less, and perhaps 50 to 60mm or (1.97 to 2.36in) over about six hours.

Specific areas of the East of England - including Bedford, Peterborough and Milton Keynes - have been mentioned as part of the amber warning.

People in these areas were advised to avoid travelling by road during the potentially dangerous conditions and not to drive, walk or swim through any floodwater.

Householders and business owners could also prepare a flood kit comprising of essentials, including insurance and other important documents, as well as prescription medicines.

Parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire have already been badly affected by flooding, with roads closed and some schools shut on Monday.

Roads around Bedford have already been disrupted by rainfall this week

Heavy rain was expected to sweep across large swathes of the UK, and the Met Office warned "lightning and strong, gusty winds may be additional hazards, especially in south-west coastal areas".

"Given the recent very wet weather, this will bring the potential for further flooding and transport disruption," it added.

The Met Office advised people to check if their property could be at risk of flooding and consider a plan of what to do, review any travel plans, be prepared for any power cuts and stay updated with weather forecasts.

Heavy rain already meant a major road in Bedford was closed since Sunday, when a roadside pumping station became flooded.

Articulated tankers and pumping equipment were used to try to clear the A421 in both directions - between the A6, at Bedford, to the M1 junction 13, near Brogborough and Marston Moretaine.

Forty-three people were rescued overnight from caravans at Billing Aquadrome

More than 40 people were also rescued from a holiday park in Northamptonshire overnight on Tuesday.

Billing Aquadrome, in Great Billing, was evacuated for a third time this year because of flooding.

The rest centre at Lings Forum Leisure Centre housed 52 people and 22 displaced dogs, the county's fire and rescue service said.