The BBC's Alva McNichol reports on flood fears

Flood-hit areas of Wales and the West Country have had further rain Friday and Saturday.

More than 40 flood warnings - 10 of them in the serious red category - are in place and emergency services are ready for a hectic weekend.

Daniela Relph: More floods to come

The Environment Agency has asked sightseers to keep away from the Severn Valley for their own safety as locals struggle with some of the worst flooding there since the late 1940s.

The water has begun to subside, but forecasters say worse weather predicted to arrive between Saturday morning and Monday could cause river levels to rise dangerously again.

Weather warning: A BBC News 24 forecaster predicts more rain

The Environment Agency's Head of Flood Defence, Bryan Utteridge, said: "If there is heavy, sustained rain the flooding will not be over in the Severn catchment area for several days and other parts of the country would again be threatened."

The Association of British Insurers said that another weekend of flooding could take the clean-up bill above the £100m mark and householders were urged to take action to protect their property.

The Severn has risen high enough effectively to cut off the centre of Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, leaving just one access point over the Kingsland Bridge.

Hereford was also under several feet of water after the River Wye broke its banks and rose to a record 18ft above its normal level, although most roads into the town are now passable.

The Environment Agency's John Fitzsimons: "Another two inches of rain predicted"

Ross and Monmouth experienced record flood levels, but the waters have begun to subside.

The Environment Agency has warned that a second flood peak is moving down the Severn.

The river at Bridgnorth and Bewdley continues to rise and stands at least 14ft above its normal level.

The BBC's Daniel Boettcher: "Residents in Bridgnorth knew the flood was coming but could do little"

Andrea McWilliams, from Bridgnorth District Council, who is co-ordinating the battle to keep the floods at bay, was surprised at the scale of the flooding.

Sandbag defence against rising river levels

"I've never seen anything like this before and I've spoken to a lot of people ... and many haven't seen its like for 30 years," she said.

Agriculture Minister Elliot Morley has been defending the work of the Environment Agency during this latest crisis.

"Everyone in the appropriate areas has had proper warnings," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The Met Office said the level of rainfall for the UK this month could exceed that of October 1987 when a hurricane battered Britain.

Manchester has already suffered its wettest October since records began in 1942.

Elliot Morley defends the Environment Agency on BBC Radio 4's Today programme

A report into the Environment Agency's handling of flooding last Easter is due out next month. It will recommend certain improvements, such as better co-ordination via a national flood forecasting and warning centre.