Worse weather settles across the country as torrential rain of up to 40mm affects parts of south-west England leading to severe flooding in six villages in Cornwall. The Environment Agency has issued more than 50 flood alerts in the South West where communities are still recouping from the flood damage of recent weeks.

Just a few days ahead of Christmas, the heavy rains have caused havoc and affected properties in St Keverne, Gunwalloe, Gorran Haven, Mevagissey, Polbathic and Altarnun. The latest Met Office forecast says that the latest bout of heavy showers will pave way for dry conditions tomorrow, before the onset of more downpour on Saturday.

The repercussions of severe flooding could be seen in separate incidents which included travel services disruptions as buses replaced trains between Fareham and Eastleigh. Two cars were stranded by flooding on the B3302 between Hayle and Helston. Deep floodwater caused inconvenience to commuters on roads A399 Ilfracombe to Watermouth, while a landslip occurred on the A386 near Bideford.

Meanwhile, firefighters are pumping away water from the Esplanade in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The Lymington River at Brockenhurst has burst its banks, threatening to cause further damage to properties. Hampshire’s flooding is causing severe disruption in road and rail network.

The Environment Agency has put large swathes of southern and south-western England, south-east Wales and the Midlands, under potential flood threat. Flood warnings have been issued in South West, the South East and East Anglia, the Environment Agency said.

River levels are also on the rise after yesterday’s persistent rain. River Cober in Helston, Cornwall, and River Char are under threat with the latter posing as a danger for Dolphins River Park in Charmouth, west Dorset.

Heavy rainfall of up to 40mm over last night on already saturated ground is posing as a threat to River Wey in Weymouth, Dorset as well as Somerset.