Mike Rigby, cabinet member for transport at Somerset Council, told BBC Radio Somerset the rain is coming just three days after the last really heavy rain event.

“The problem is that a lot of that water really hasn’t gone anywhere, the fields are still full, the land is still saturated," he said.

“If this had come after a long period of dry weather, we’d be much less concerned."

Mr Rigby said the council had pulled crews off planned work yesterday and today to make sure the highways drainage system was as good as it can be.

“It’s difficult with council finances at the moment to do everything we might want to do [but] we do the best we can with the money we’ve got,” he added.

He appealed to commuters: "Please don't drive or walk through flood water... and if there's a road closure sign please accept the road is closed."

Signs are removed quickly once a route is cleared, he added.

Ian Withers from the Environment Agency said the weather forecast looks "pretty bleak".

He said the rain will top up what is already in the Somerset river system, with some capacity in the moors for more water spilling over from the rivers.

Mr Withers said people should avoid travelling if they can, especially in the worst of the rain.

"Even when surface water is quite shallow you often then can't see the edge of the road and its easy to get stuck," he added.

A number of schools have been closed today, started late or have closed early.

Somerset Council has published an updated list here, external.

Many schools said they took the decision due to the heavy rain which would make roads dangerous meaning pupils and staff would be unable to get to school safely.

Rain from the last week has already left the land at Currymoor completely flooded.

Image source, Avon Fire and Rescue Service

Avon Fire and Rescue Service is warning people not to try to drive through flood water with country lanes and low-lying ground often worst affected.

It says it has carried out more than 20 rescues from flood water across the region in the last two days.

Group manager Seán Heighton, said: "The effects of floodwater can be very serious and entering what looks okay from the surface can have very expensive or even dangerous results.

"Finding another route may be frustrating, but being on time isn't worth taking serious risk.”

Image source, Travel Somerset

Good afternoon,

We’re here with live updates on flooding in Somerset.

Here’s a roundup of problems in the county.

• The Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain from midnight last night with flood alerts and warnings live now
• Heavy rain across the region over the last few days means water has not had a chance to properly subside
• National Highways has asked commuters to plan journeys well, particularly in at risk areas
• A landslip above the Crewkerne tunnel entrance in Somerset due to sustained heavy rain means services between Salisbury and Exeter are unable to run until Monday
• West Mudford Road is closed in both directions due to flooding from Ashington turn off to Droveway Lane.
• The A358 at Donyat, Ilminster, has been closed due to flooding
• Surface water is causing issues in the area of Crewkerne, with some flooding on the A3066 North Street in Haselbury Plucknett
• Wincanton races has been called off due to "significant rainfall"

We will be following updates through the afternoon.