Flood alert as rain warnings issued for areas across UK

Almost 150 flood alerts are in place across the country as the Met Office issued fresh weather warnings for heavy rain and wind after Storm Ingrid battered parts of the UK.

- BRYONY GOOCH

Parts of a historic pier crumbled into the sea in Devon, and a sea wall that protects a railway line in Dawlish was brought down as huge waves and heavy rain lashed the coastline early on Saturday. The forecaster has warned that further volatile weather is on the way, with yellow warnings for southwest, southern and mid-Wales today, extending to southern England tomorrow.

The forecaster warned that homes and businesses could be flooded, some communities could become cut off, and power cuts are possible.

The Environment Agency has issued 113 flood alerts, indicating flooding is possible, and 20 flood warnings, where deluge is expected, across England yesterday. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) issued seven flood warnings and three flood alerts, while Natural Resources Wales has two alerts in place.

Outbreaks of heavy rain are expected to bring some transport disruption across the southwest of England, southern and mid-Wales, and some parts of the southeast of England. A yellow rain weather warning is in place across the region from 3pm today until midday tomorrow.