The Environment Agency is warning people living in flooded areas to thoroughly clear away silt left behind when waters recede because it may contain untreated sewage.

The BBC's Daniel Boettcher reports on the post-flood clean-up operation

The waste became mixed with flood water as it rose in some areas to the highest levels recorded in three decades.

Local council workers are already clearing silt away.

Householders are being warned to seek medical attention should they experience illness.

Celia Bahram, of Bridgnorth District Council, Shropshire, said: "The advice is for people to get themselves checked out by their GP.

"It is a precautionary measure against Weil's disease."

Vast areas affected

She added that the disease could be "particularly nasty" and was associated with water rats.

Costly floods

Insurers have put the cost of repairing damage throughout the Midlands and Wales at £100m.

The figure is lower than one estimated by the Association of British Insurers a few days ago.

The Environment Agency says water levels are falling slowly in the West Midlands and Welsh borders.

But huge areas remain submerged under several feet of water and fresh downpours are expected to prompt a new peak level surge.

The Met Office has issued a warning of further floods after predicting that persistent heavy rain would affect Wales and western England.

They said the deluge would move on to the rest of England and southern and eastern Scotland.

The outlook for the next couple of days is not much better with the prediction of unsettled weather with showers or longer periods of rain.

Red alert

At Bewdley in Worcestershire, the River Severn is flowing at 10 times its normal level for this time of year.

Seven flood warnings remain in place with eight rivers on red alert.

Environment Agency spokeswoman Aima O'Connel warned that the situation was still critical with more rain predicted in the next 24 hours.

She said: "It's difficult to predict what effect it will have on river levels which are already extremely high.