Quite a few polling stations have been affected by flooding. Among the worst-hit are: 

• In Kingston-upon-Thames - The Devon Way polling station in Chessington, has had to close and the Shiraz Mirza polling station in Malden Manor, has had to relocate to the children's centre on Lawrence Avenue
• In Barking and Dagenham - The polling station at St Thomas More Church, Longbridge Road, Beacontree, has also been relocated

Other polling stations remain difficult to access because of flood waters. 

Local resident Ana Luiza Negrao shows how close the water is getting to her home in Canning Town.

The thunderstorms have caused power cuts across the London area. UK Power Networks has a map showing which areas are affected, external.

Homes were flooded overnight in Battersea, south London. Residents have been telling the BBC what it was like:  

Another resident said: 

A third householder described the damage done to her home: 

A golf course is under water after storms overnight.

Tim Green shared pictures of Upminster Golf Course in east London.

Image source, Tim Green

Image source, Tim Green

The rain didn't stop voters in London from getting to their local polling station, as these pictures show. 

Image source, AFP/Getty

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Thousands of lightning strikes were recorded overnight as flooding left rail users travelling from Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk with long delays on Thursday morning.  

"Across southeast England, East Anglia and northern France overnight, we had just under 7,000 lightning strikes averaging about 1,000 strikes per hour," said BBC Weather's Carol Kirkwood.

"Conditions are now improving... but there will be more thunderstorms and torrential downpours later this afternoon." 

The storms brought down trees in the Hampshire village of Botley. 

South West Trains are still advising passengers not to travel, external in the wake of the storms and flooding which have been causing major disruption all morning. 

• There are no trains between Shepperton and Fulwell,
• There are delays between Surbiton and Hampton Court
• Trains that normally run between London Waterloo and Weybridge via Staines are unable to run  - a situation expected to last until 1200 BST
• Trains between Ascot and Reading are now running but with 60-minute delays

Barking in east London has been badly affected by the storms. Resident Jodie Rose, 37, says her children have been unable to go to school because their house is surrounded by water contaminated with sewage so they cannot go out. 

Mrs Rose said the water was knee-deep around her grandmother's house and that the 89-year-old would not take the "risk" of going out to vote and that her disabled neighbour was similarly affected. 

Image source, Met Office

The Met Office has just updated its weather warnings. 

There is now an amber "be prepared" warning for rain in place for London and the surrounding area, which will be in place until 23:00 BST. 

The Met Office chief forecaster said: "Another wave of thunderstorms breaking out across south-eastern UK this afternoon and evening is likely to bring some thunderstorms into the London area. 

"Whether these storms are as severe as those of last night is, at this stage, uncertain, but in view of storms being expected during the afternoon and evening impacts may be as widespread as those of last night and first thing this morning."

The River Rom in east London has burst its banks, affecting homes and businesses nearby, as shown in this video by Charlie Livings.

Rodney Vitalis, station manager for London Fire Brigade said: "We are currently dealing with an incident in Romford - five fire engines are there.

"There's no serious injuries to anyone but 60 homes and businesses are affected with 1m of water.

"If there are welfare reasons or serious injuries then call 999.

"London Fire Brigade have been inundated and attended over 400 incidents today - if it is not an emergency, then do not call."

BBC Travel

Last night's storms are affecting London's transport system today - with long delays on roads, rail and the underground due to flooding.

This photo was taken by Olly Dolphin at Surbiton station this morning - it took him two hours and 40 minutes to get from Surbiton to Old Street - and it took him one hour to just get on the train.

For the latest travel updates visit the BBC London travel page or follow @BBCTravelAlert, external

Image source, Olly Dolphin

BBC London Travel
BBC Radio London Travel

The A40 is now open at Medway Underpass, with congestion to A437 (Hillingdon Circus).  

The A12 Eastway Tunnel is down to one lane southbound due flooding.

On the M25 there is congestion due to an earlier accident and flooding anti-clockwise at J9 Leatherhead, with congestion to J14 A3113 (Heathrow).

One lane is closed due to flooding on the M4 Westbound between J4 A408 (Heathrow Spur/Uxbridge) and J4B (M25).

The A12 Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach is closed at the A13 East India Dock Road due flooding at Abbott Road.

In Barking the A13 is closed at the Movers Lane Underpass due flooding.

In Perivale the A40 is down to two lanes.

The storms and flooding have had a massive impact on transport in London. For the latest travel updates visit the BBC London travel page or follow @BBCTravelAlert, external

BBC weather has confirmed that a month's worth of rain has fallen in London since yesterday evening.  

This polling station in Chessington, south London, was also affected by flooding. The scene was captured by a Twitter user earlier this morning.

Image source, @hjyoungs/PA

The Environment Agency still has 39 flood alerts in place in the South East and Anglian regions and seven flood warnings, external, meaning flooding is expected and action should be taken.