UK storms: Further flooding risk as heavy rain forecast

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An abandoned Audi car sits in flood water in Chertsey, SurreyImage source, PA
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Areas of Surrey, including Chertsey, were affected by flooding

Parts of Britain are at risk of more flooding, as the Met Office forecasts more heavy rain in the coming days.

There are more than 100 flood warnings in England, Scotland and Wales.

The Environment Agency has warned there is a continuing risk of flooding in Dorset, south Wiltshire, parts of the Somerset Levels and areas close to the River Thames.

A Met Office yellow warning for rain, external has been issued for south-west England and southern Wales.

The warning, which comes into effect at 12:00 GMT on Wednesday and will last until 09:00 on Thursday, also applies to the "western slice" of the Midlands.

It says "periods of heavy rain" in these areas could cause further flooding, especially in Wales, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

A rain warning for southern and south-eastern England expired at 06:00 GMT.

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BBC Weather's Helen Willetts said numerous flood warnings remained in place

The Environment Agency has issued 114 flood warnings for England and Wales, external, with the South East and South West the areas most likely to be flooded.

In Scotland, 14 flood warnings have been issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency,, external though none is rated severe.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told the BBC 86 properties in Oxford had been flooded on Tuesday, and temporary flood defences were installed at one end of the High Street in Guildford, Surrey.

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There was flooding in Oxford on Tuesday in areas close to the River Thames

Image source, Getty Images
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The Thames Barrier was closed for the 11th successive tide

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There has also been flooding in Thames Ditton, Surrey

Image source, Reuters
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A clean-up operation started in Aberystwyth on Tuesday

Image source, Stuart Morris
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Powerful waves reduced the Pom Pom rock stack in Dorset

The Environment Agency said properties in several parts of Berkshire had been flooded, including Purley on Thames, Shiplake, Old Windsor, Wraysbury, Bourne End, Datchet and along the lower River Loddon.

The Thames Barrier in London was closed for the 11th successive tide. The Environment Agency said it has closed operationally only 135 times since being built in the 1980s.

Environment Agency flood risk manager Paul Mustow said: "The risk... continues this week, with communities in the South West and South East urged to stay safe and sign up to free flood warnings."

Parts of the south coast and Wales were battered by waves on Monday night, but that threat has receded.

In Dorset, sirens sounded in Chiswell on the Isle of Portland for the first time since they were installed 30 years ago, with one English Channel coastguard saying she had never seen such a prolonged storm.

And in the Welsh coastal town of Aberystwyth a clean-up began on Tuesday following an "exceptional" wave swell that hit the town on Monday night that led to the evacuation of 250 seafront residents.

There was also travel disruption, with many roads closed due to flooding.

The recent flooding has prompted the UK government to co-ordinate with international partners to gather information on the damage caused from their satellites.

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