UK weather: Flood warnings in place as heavy rain and strong winds lash UK

Rainy weather hits Bristol

Flood warnings are in place as heavy rain and strong winds lash the UK.

Yellow weather warnings cover Yorkshire, the Midlands and Humber, southern and south-east England as rain falls on already water-logged ground.

Flooding has been reported on many roads and on the railways disrupting train services across the country.

Several schools have closed in Herefordshire and Worcestershire due to rising flood levels and "treacherous road conditions", councils said.

A yellow weather warning for wind in East Anglia, central, southern and south-east England has also been issued with gusts up to 60 or 70mph expected.

More rain is falling on ground which is already water-logged, with another 10 to 20mm likely to fall through Thursday.

Drivers are being warned of hazardous conditions as large puddles and spray affect roads. The RAC has urged drivers to slow down and increase stopping distances.

A car drives through a large puddle in Somerset

Flooding is causing delays and cancellations on trainlines across the affected regions, with disruption reported on CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Malvern, Great Western Railway (GWR), Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway services.

All lines between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton have been blocked, with trains being replaced by a bus service until 17:30.

The number of flood warnings - when flooding is expected - has risen to 70 in England.

• East of England warned of rain, wind and possible flooding

• Flooding shuts schools and block rail lines in West Midlands

As well as wet weather, which is being driven by a deep area of low pressure crossing northern France, there will be a spell of gale to severe gale-force winds, particularly near the coast.

The Met Office said there was a slight chance of power cuts and some damage to buildings.

Yellow weather warnings are still in place in:

• the Midlands, East Anglia, Lincolnshire, London and south-east and south-west England, and Yorkshire and the Humber for rain until 18:00

• East Anglia, London, central southern and south-east England for wind until 18:00

Commuters shelter under hoods in Croydon

A field floods near a railway line in Swynnerton, Staffordshire

A yellow weather warning for wind has been issued for East Anglia, south-east and central southern England