Heavy rain causes rail and road disruption

Water levels on the River Exe near Cowley Bridge are high

Rail passengers have faced cancellations and delays in the South West due to heavy rainfall.

The branch line between Liskeard and Looe in Cornwall was closed due to flooding on the line.

Network Rail said there were also delays between Newton Abbot and Plymouth after heavy flooding at Totnes.

Great Western Railway (GWR) said people in Devon and Cornwall should not attempt their journeys if they had not begun already.

Flooding on the Liskeard to Looe line in Cornwall

There have also been reports of localised flooding on some roads in the two counties.

The Environment Agency said two flood warnings were in place for Devon - one affecting the lower River Torridge and one for the River Yarty from Yarcombe to Axminster.

Food alerts, meaning flooding is possible, are in place in many other areas.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for rain across south England until 03:00 on Friday.

GWR said there had been disruption between Totnes and Plymouth after heavy rain flooded the railway.

It said: "Train services between London Paddington and Penzance via Plymouth are returning to normal but some services have been cancelled, delayed or terminated at and started back from Exeter St Davids."

Peter Gentleman from the operator advised passengers to check before travelling.

"We've got the water coming off the land that could cause some significant problems," he said.

He said the Liskeard to Looe branch line has been closed after flooding "on and off for several days".

He explained that the rain is falling on ground which is already "sodden" from previous days of rainfall and so the extra rain would "flow fast onto railway lines".

Closures are expected into the weekend and passengers are advised to check the situation before they try to travel.

Water over the road near Carnon Downs in Cornwall

Water over the road at Goonhavern in Cornwall

Icy conditions

Devon County Council (DCC) said roads around Honiton, Ivybridge, Newton Abbot, Okehampton and Tiverton would be gritted overnight as falling temperatures were expected to follow rainfall.

Councillor Robert Hughes, DCC's cabinet member for highway management, urged motorists to take care.

He said: "With standing water and water run-off on the roads, it will make it an extremely difficult task for our gritting teams and could make ice extremely likely."

Cornwall Council said it was providing emergency accommodation to rough sleepers.

Flooding on the road between Tregony and St Austell