Flood risk to Trent, Avon and Severn

Torrential overnight rain threatened to flood large areas of England and Wales today.

The Environment Agency had posted 27 flood warnings for the Midlands by yesterday afternoon, three for Wales and six for East Anglia, but said they were predominantly for isolated rural areas.

"The Severn, Avon and Trent are all at risk," a spokeswoman for the Environment Agency in the Midlands said. "The water levels in the rivers have built up with the heavy rain during the week. There has been no rain today but rain is predicted for tonight. If that happens and the ground hasn't had chance to dry out then there could be floods."

A Met Office spokesman added that up to an inch of rain was expected to fall in the North-west and half an inch in the Midlands. The rain is expected to clear up by this afternoon. Forecasters expect the wind to pick up then, with possible gale-force winds in the North-west.