Flash flooding causes disruption across East of England

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Flooding at Hitch Wood in HertfordshireImage source, Flick Wright
Image caption,

A motorist was caught out at Hitch Wood, near Preston in Hertfordshire

Flash flooding has caused widespread disruption in the East of England.

Some roads in Hertfordshire and Essex have become impassable for motorists and train services have been affected.

The Met Office earlier issued a yellow weather warning, external predicting heavy showers and thunderstorms between 11:00 BST and 22:00 in the region.

Up to 20mm (0.8 inches) of rain was predicted within an hour for some areas.

Image source, Mark Castle
Image caption,

There was flooding in Great North Road in Oaklands, near Welwyn, Hertfordshire

Pictures shared on social media showed significant flood water in Hertfordshire, including in Station Road, Harpenden and in Oaklands near Welwyn.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said it was experiencing a "high volume" of 999 emergency calls, external because of cars stuck in flood water and urged drivers to find "alternative routes".

There were similar scenes in Daventry Road near Ashby St Ledgers, Northamptonshire, and in Old Harlow in Essex.

Chilterns Railways reported cancellations and 60-minute delays between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough, external, Buckinghamshire, and fellow operator Greater Anglia cancelled trains, external between Cambridge and King's Lynn because of "severe weather".

Image source, Jeff Bullock
Image caption,

Eastbourne Avenue, in the Symonds Green part of Stevenage, was flooded

Image source, Met Office
Image caption,

The area of the country issued with a yellow weather warning

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