South hit by floods after heavy rainfall

1. Flooding is reported across the south after heavy rain overnight
2. The highest rainfall in the country was in Otterbourne in Hampshire, where 35.2mm (1.4ins)
3. Train companies have also been badly affected by the deluge, with Great Western Railway warning of disruption all day
4. There have been road and lane closures across the region
5. Cars were left stranded in "thigh-high" water under a bridge in Fareham
6. It comes after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk earlier in the week, which left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding

Footage shows flooding across Bournemouth

Bournemouth road users hit by severe flooding

The heavy rain is causing problems across Dorset, as these clips from Bournemouth show.

A car has been abandoned at the Cooper Dean Roundabout as flood levels rose. As a result of the water, there are now diversions in place for anyone wishing to get to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Rain warnings across the south

BBC South's Alexis Green has the latest forecast for the region

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Burst sewer on key route

A burst sewer is being attended to by Southern Water in an attempt to stop flooding on one of the key routes in and out of Portsmouth.

The firm says staff will have to close two lanes on Eastern Road on Friday until Tuesday to fix the problem, but for now attempts are being made to stop the road from flooding.

Flooding blocks motorway

The M27 is partially blocked near Southampton due to flooding.

The westbound carriageway was down to two lanes between Park Gate and Eastleigh, with the other two closed due to water levels.

Find alternative route

In Dorset, the fire service has reported flooding in Winfrith Newburgh, on Dorchester Road. They describe it as "severely flooded" and advise motorists to find a different way to travel if possible.

Heavy flooding in Southampton

Footage shows the impact of heavy rainfall caused by Storm Henk in Southampton.

Drivers are working their way through flooding on Millbrook Road West.

Buses and cars can be seen driving through the water, which has risen throughout the day.

Road users are slowly making their way through heavy flooding along Millbrook Road West

The city council has also published a list of other main roads across the city that have been impacted by localised flooding:

Flooding diversions in place for visitors to Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Diversions have been set up for people visiting Royal Bournemouth Hospital this evening.

Due to flooding by the main entrance, people are being asked to enter the hospital in a different area, where porters are there to assist.

Check before travelling

Southern Rail is warning passengers to check their journey before setting off. The firm predicts disruption on its services until the end of Thursday.

Be prepared

The Environment Agency has published a video to advise on what to do to prepare for any potential flooding.

Met Office warn of localised flooding

The Met Office said there was a chance of 20 to 30mm of rain falling in six to nine hours on Thursday across part of the area covered by its warning, with some places perhaps seeing up to 50mm.

"Impacts are more likely due to the current very wet ground across the region," the weather agency added.

Rainwater falling on already-saturated ground could lead to localised flooding, with the Met Office warning there is a "small chance" communities could be cut off.

Flooding latest: Heavy rain hits the south

Parts of the UK are experiencing another day of disruptive weather, with heavy rain and hundreds of flood alerts and warnings in place.

A Met Office yellow warning for rain covering the south of England came into force at midday and will last until 03:00 GMT on Friday.

The warning, stretching from Cornwall to East Anglia, says there could be power cuts and travel disruption.

Read the latest from around the UK

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Storm Henk-hit farmers call for stronger river defences

Local farms have also been heavily impacted, with thousands of acres of crops and farmland sitting under floodwater left by Henk.

Farmers are calling on the government to invest more in river defences in rural areas to protect UK food production.

Third-generation tenant farmer Ollie Stobo, 45, who farms cereal crops on 500 acres of land near Witney in Oxfordshire, has been hit by floodwaters for the seventh time in two years.

Two fields - a tenth of the farm - are currently underwater after the River Evenlode flooded this week.

Ollie Stobo

Find out where the latest flood warnings are

There are currently 217 flood warning listed across England.

You can check the latest here.

People who live in areas covered by flood warnings should act by turning off gas, water and electricity supplies, moving things upstairs or to safety, and moving family, pets and car to safety, according to the Environment Agency, which covers England.

Rain warnings across the south

BBC South's Alexis Green has the latest forecast for the region

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In pictures: Flooding around the region

A number of BBC Weather Watchers have been sending in their images of the rain and flooding across the region.

Yen Milne

BBC Weather Watcher Yen Milne - Fareham, Hampshire

LucieJohnson

BBC Weather Watcher LucieJohnson - North Hinksey, Oxfordshire

BBC Weather Watcher ChrisB

BBC Weather Watcher ChrisB - Newchurch, Isle of Wight

Speed limit imposed on rail network

Network Rail has imposed a speed limit of 50mph on the network across Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey and the South Coast.

'Severe disruption'

South Western Rail is warning of "severe disruption" until 19:00 GMT on Thursday.

Extreme rainfall

A yellow rain warning put in place for the South of England by the Met Office, with heavy rainfall across the country forecast until the early hours of Friday.

Already, rail operators are warning of disruption to the network with risks of flooding due to "extreme rainfall".