Worst of the floods across UK with 1,000 homes hit by highest river levels in 24 years

The UK has been hit with some of the worst flooding in 24 years as new footage shows the devastation caused to homes around the country.

Two people have now died in incidents linked to the weather, including a man who was crushed to death when a tree fell on his car and a woman who had driven into a tree that fell onto the road.

People have been advised against travelling as train services have been disrupted and roads have been closed or impacted by the flooding.

More than 1,000 homes around the UK have been flooded after heavy downpours, according to the Environment Agency.

Videos show severe flooding in parts of Gloucestershire, Bath in Somerset and Newark in Nottinghamshire.

Flood warnings and alerts were still in place this morning despite weather conditions improving for many, with the ongoing impact of the flooding being felt as the ground is ‘completely saturated’ after days of rain.

The agency says it’s likely the impact of the flooding will continue to be felt over the next five days.

Caroline Douglass, the agency’s flood director, said the River Trent has been at ‘some of the highest levels we’ve seen in 24 years’.

And, speaking to BBC Breakfast, she added that the number of flooded properties is still likely to rise.

She said: ‘We have had very wide rainfall.

‘Over November and December, following Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran, the ground was incredibly saturated right across the country, particularly in the east.

‘But also that’s just been topped up over the pre-Christmas period. That rainfall from this week has just added to that, so there’s really nowhere for the water to go.

‘The ground is completely saturated so in that situation we get more flooding and greater impacts than we’ve seen and probably in areas where people aren’t used to.’

Train travel has been severely affected by the floods, with South Western Railway disrupted across the network today, with major issues especially on its west of England routes.

Newark in Nottinghamshire has been badly impacted by the flooding (Picture: Getty Images Europe)

In a statement it said:  ‘Whilst we expect water levels to drop and most of the network to reopen today, we will not be able to operate services between Yeovil Junction and Exeter because of a landslip near Crewkerne.

‘Disruption to the rest of the network is expected to last throughout today due to displaced trains and crews.

‘We would urge everyone to check before they travel to see whether their train is running as planned.’

Great Western Railway also said there was ‘significant disruption’ to its network, with lines being closed between Swindon and Bristol Parkway and Reading and Taunton.

The operator said: ‘Due to the flooding a significantly reduced level of service can only be provided and will be subject to further short-notice cancellations throughout the day.

A cricket pitch belonging to Oxford University has been submerged in the floods (Picture: Reuters)

‘Customers are advised to travel as early as possible or consider delaying their journey.

‘A serious incident near Reading last night, where police closed the railway for several hours, has left trains and crew in the wrong place for the start of service, which alongside localised flooding, continues to hamper our ability to run trains.’

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Met Office spokesperson Oli Claydon said conditions are ‘turning considerably drier and improving all the time’, adding that there are no rain warnings from the services ‘for the first time in a while’.

He said the spell of rain that hit southern England on Thursday is moving eastwards across the North Sea, leaving ‘some scattered showers across parts of the UK’, mostly in the northeastern parts of Scotland.

Mr Claydon added: ‘We’re heading to a more settled spell of weather, which will be very welcome for many people across the UK after what’s been a very wet start to 2024.’

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Experts say the UK has seen some of the highest river levels in 24 years.