'Monsoon' floods homes and shuts roads

Residents in Chipping Camden have faced overnight flooding

Residents in Gloucestershire have compared heavy downpours in the county to "a monsoon", amid flash flooding and travel disruption.

Throughout September, the county has seen 214mm of rain - about three times the normal amount for the month.

Footage from parts of the county show impassable roads and floodwater rising near homes, with the Environment Agency urging people to avoid travelling in affected areas.

Peter Drinkwater, who farms an array of vegetables for his farm shop and cafe Vegetable Matters in Ebrington, Chipping Camden, said the town had been impacted by "a huge load" of rain since last week.

The road through, Charfield Mill, Huntingford, was rendered impassable

We can't get on and it makes life very, very hard," said Mr Drinkwater.

"Farmers are pulling their hair out at the moment about this weather," he added, telling BBC Radio Gloucestershire it "has a drastic effect on everything".

As of 05:00 BST this morning, the Environment Agency had 63 flood warnings in place and 120 flood alerts, including a red alert for the Tetbury Avon River in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

Floodwater also covered Wainload Lane in Norton

'Take care, avoid travelling'

Tewkesbury Borough Council has also handed out sandbags to residents to help protect their homes against flooding, advising them to stack them against their doorways.

Although weather conditions have improved this afternoon, the Environment Agency warned residents to "take care, avoid travelling and start acting on flood plans".

BBC Weather is monitoring the prospect of more wet and windy weather arriving later on Sunday and into Monday.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “River levels are expected to rise as a result of the rain and ground will remain saturated but the picture is expected to improve ahead of the next expected band of rain next week.

“Winter is coming and it will bring heavy rain and storms so now is an excellent time to sign up for flood warnings so you get the earliest possible notice of any flood risk.”