Heavy rain brings flood warnings

Heavy rain sweeping across parts of England and Wales has led to several flood warnings being issued.

Around 25mm (1in) has fallen across parts of Wales, central and northern England and east Anglia, with twice that in places.

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings in parts of Wales, Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Herefordshire.

However, the deluge was not as bad as forecasters feared and many parts of the UK enjoyed some sunshine.

Flood warnings are in force in the Conwy, Lower Dee and Dyfi valleys in Wales; parts of the rivers Severn in south Wales, Mersey in Greater Manchester, Teme and Wye in the Midlands, and near Keswick in Cumbria.

Flood watch alerts have been issued in more than 70 areas.

Warnings indicate that flooding of some homes and businesses is expected, while people in locations on flood watch should be prepared for low-lying land and roads to be affected.

A woman was trapped in a car and rescued by firefighters in Troedyrhiw, near Newton, Powys, shortly before 0700 BST.

BBC weather forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker said the rain was clearing over Wales, and parts of northern England and the Midlands but was likely to fall over East Anglia into Sunday afternoon.

'Miserable and wet'

"It's not as dramatic as we feared," he said.

"Most places had about 25mm of rain but a couple of areas will have had another 25mm. It's just a miserable wet day for a lot of us."

However, he said much of Scotland and the far north of England were enjoying bright sunshine. Among those to benefit were those taking part in the Great North Run.

A brief period of respite has been forecast on Monday with a cold and bright start before the rain returns once more the following day.

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