Storm Ciarán batters Britain: Heavy rain set to pour further misery on country after Babet – as swathes of UK from Cornwall to Sussex and Essex are deluged after torrential downpours 

• Met Office issued yellow warnings across swathes of the country amid flooding

Britain is set to be deluged again after days of heavy rain left swathes of the country from Cornwall to Essex under water.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings across wide expanses of the country as areas in the south of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland were told they could face further disruption from Storm Ciarán.

They say there will be heavy and persistent rain coupled with wind in the north of the country –  which will turn heavier and thundery into the night.

And while there may be some sunny spells the forecaster has warned of a risk of further heavy rain and a risk of thunder on Monday.

Residents in the storm-lashed West Country were braced for further flooding today after many towns were battered overnight.

And the village of Lanchester, County Durham was plunged into crisis this morning after heavy rain overnight caused huge flooding.

In Bognor caravans and a Tesco superstore were left under water while roads were submerged in Essex. 

In Bognor Regis, West Sussex. shocking pictures showed a caravan park and a Tesco supermarket under water

The ground in the coastal town is entirely grey with water as the holiday units are marooned in a sea of floodwater

Only the trolley shelters stick out from above the water in the superstore’s car park, as the wind makes waves above the submerged bays

Heavy rain caused roads to flood in Essex – where photos show a man trying to cross in waders and sunglasses

But despite the weather warnings in some parts of the country Brits were greeted with a sunny morning. Pictured: Castle Rising, Sandringham

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings across swathes of the country as areas in the south of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland were told they could face further disruption. Pictured: Flooding on Golders Green Road, London

The Met Office say there will be heavy and persistent rain coupled with wind in the north of the country – which will turn heavier and thundery into the night

Heavy rain combined with very high tides meant that some towns and villages in Cornwall suffered severe flooding with Looe and Truro the worst affected. 

Locals could be seen paddling down a high street in a plastic skip and others used park benches to keep dry above the floor waters. 

It comes after an amber ‘danger to life’ warning for rain was lifted in the south of England as forecasters warned that thundery showers and strong winds over the weekend could cause flooding to already soaked parts of the UK. 

Up to 40mm of water was expected to fall in as little as three hours overnight into the early hours of this morning in the area covered by the warning, which stretches from the Isle of Wight to Lydd on the southeast coast.

The Environment Agency has issued 12 flood warnings for Cornwall and police have urged residents and motorists to take care.

Looe resident Teresa Appleton, 61, said: ‘During the afternoon, I couldn’t believe how fast the tide was coming up the river, so everything was pointing to flooding.

‘What surprised me was the depth – even with wellies on, you couldn’t get around Looe.

Locals in Looe, Cornwall could be seen paddling down a high street in a plastic skip and others used park benches to keep dry above the floor waters

Residents in the storm-lashed West Country were braced for further flooding today after many towns were battered overnight. Pictured: Flooding in Looe

Heavy rain combined with very high tides meant that some towns and villages in Cornwall suffered severe flooding with Looe (pictured) and Truro the worst affected

It comes after an amber ‘danger to life’ warning for rain was lifted in the south of England as forecasters warned that thundery showers and strong winds over the weekend could cause flooding

Up to 40mm of water was expected to fall in as little as three hours overnight into the early hours of this morning

And while there may be some sunny spells the forecaster has warned of a risk of further heavy rain and a risk of thunder on Monday

‘It made me smile to see some very enterprising youngsters who were charging people for collecting takeaways and giving lifts in a large fish box.

‘But it was hard to witness local businesses bailing out water yet again.

‘I guess this will bring more focus onto plans for flood defences.’

Shopkeeper Andrew Gill added: ‘This is the worst flooding since 2004. It was very deep outside. We have cleaned up but it needs to dry out.’

In Lanchester, County Durham, emergency services are at the scene on Front Street which remains under water after persistent wet weather.

The main road which connects the village to nearby Consett has also been shut off by police.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said: ‘Emergency services are currently dealing with flooding in Lanchester, which has resulted in the closure of most of the roads in the village, including the A691 in both directions.

‘Please avoid the area, and plan journeys accordingly. An update will be provided in due course.’

Additional drainage work, which was designed to capture excess surface water, was carried out in Lanchester in 2019 to help boost its flood defences.

In Lanchester, County Durham, emergency services are at the scene on Front Street which remains under water after persistent wet weather

The main road which connects the village to nearby Consett has also been shut off by police

One of the shops devastated by this morning’s floods is the village’s pharmacy, which had its prescription drugs destroyed

Police have told people to avoid the area due to the flooding. Pictured: The clean up inside New Image Hair Salon

However, one of the shops devastated by this morning’s floods is the village’s pharmacy, which had its prescription drugs destroyed.

Co-owner Anita Burdon, 46, said: ‘Someone was coming through the village this morning at 7am and we got a phone call from them to say the village was flooded.

‘We came over and it was bad. It was flooded from inside to out. The prescriptions and fridge were ruined and there was lots of muck all over the place.

‘I think we’ve bore the brunt of the damage on the street.

‘It’s difficult right now but we are just trying to clean up as much as we can. 

‘Hopefully we can open again as soon as possible.’

Anita, who has owned the shop for almost 20 years with husband Mark, said the business was almost destroyed in 2013 when the last serious flooding hit.

She added: ‘We lost all of the drugs last time and our insurance claim was about £60,000 because we lost so much.

Kristo Xhaferri, who owns Ravello Ristorante, also on Front Street, said he was greeted by almost two inches of water inside the eatery at around 7:30am

Anita, who has owned the pharmacy for almost 20 years with husband Mark, said the business was almost destroyed in 2013 when the last serious flooding hit

At Lanchester Carpets store on Front Steet staff come in early to help with the clean up

The Environment Agency has issued an amber flood warning for the River Skerne, which stretches across Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, also in County Durham

It comes after areas across Scotland and north-east England were battered with the worst of Storm Babet, which caused serious damage when it hit last week

‘It’s hard to say how much we have lost this time until we get the assessors to come in but it looks bad.

‘We just have to wait and see.’

Kristo Xhaferri, who owns Ravello Ristorante, also on Front Street, said he was greeted by almost two inches of water inside the eatery at around 7:30am.

He said: ‘This is the worst I have seen it in terms of flooding – it is destroyed inside.

‘I have my staff here who are helping with the clean up but we’re not sure what is going to happen next.

‘I am waiting for the insurance people to come out and we will go from there to see how long we will be closed for.’

The Environment Agency has issued an amber flood warning for the River Skerne, which stretches across Darlington and Newton Aycliffe, also in County Durham.

They said: ‘Low lying areas along the River Skerne and its tributaries from its source downstream to the Tees Confluence, including the Carr areas.’ 

In Essex a man wades through the deep flood water after roads were flooded following heavy rain

Upcoming yellow warnings describe a risk of homes and businesses being flooded and some damage to buildings

It comes after areas across Scotland and north-east England were battered with the worst of Storm Babet, which caused serious damage when it hit last week.

At least nine people died due to the severe weather including a man in his 60s in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, who was killed by fast-flowing floodwater. 

And in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. shocking pictures showed a caravan park and a Tesco supermarket under water.

The ground in the coastal town is entirely grey with water as the holiday units are marooned in a sea of floodwater.

Only the trolley shelters stick out from above the water in the superstore’s car park, as the wind makes waves above the submerged bays.

The picturesque town of Alfriston, in East Sussex, has also been rendered impassable due to the flooding.

The banks of the River Cuckmere burst its banks with rain water submerging roads to the village.

A flood warning has been issued for the town, telling residents to take action to protect their properties. 

The picturesque town of Alfriston, in East Sussex, has also been rendered impassable due to the flooding

The banks of the River Cuckmere burst its banks with rain water submerging roads to the village.

A flood warning has been issued for the town, telling residents to take action to protect their properties

In this aerial view Tewkesbury Abbey, at the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Avon, is surrounded by flood waters after the recent Storm Babet on October 27

Heavy rain also caused roads to flood in Essex – where photos show a man trying to cross in waders and sunglasses 

Upcoming yellow warnings describe a risk of homes and businesses being flooded and some damage to buildings.

And they say train and bus services could be delayed or even cancelled by flooding as spray worsens driving conditions.

They say there is also a chance of power cuts and loss of other services due to the difficult weather conditions.

But downpours could not dampen the spirits of party-goers who hit the town to celebrate on the weekend before Halloween.

Drenched revellers made the most of the seasonal weather – wearing skimpy outfits and using makeshift covers as they braved the storms.

It comes a day after a shopping centre had to be evacuated due to flooding in Hastings town centre.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said they were assisting with the situation at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre, where social media footage showed deep floodwater had come inside through the entrance on Station Road.

‘We are assisting in dealing with flooding at the Priory Meadow Shopping Centre, Hastings, which has been evacuated,’ East Sussex Fire Service said in a statement.

Downpours could not dampen the spirits of party-goers (pictured, in Manchester) who hit the town to celebrate on the weekend before Halloween

Thousands of people hit the bars and clubs in Portsmouth, Hampshire on Saturday night for an early Halloween celebration

Drenched revellers (pictured, in Manchester) made the most of the seasonal weather – wearing skimpy outfits and using makeshift covers as they braved the storms

Batman saves the day with a tactical umbrella as other revellers in Portsmouth are left drenched by the downpours

Posting on X, the service added: ‘If you have cars in Hastings town centre you are advised to move them due to flooding.’

A spokesperson for the service said there are no formal plans to evacuate homes for now.

Trains between Hastings or Eastbourne and Ashford International were running at reduced speed due to a fault with the signalling system, Southern Rail posted on X, formerly Twitter.

The train operator said they were informed of lightning damaging the system in the area.

And there will be no trains on the Isle of Wight until at least next Wednesday after flooding left the main tunnel in Ryde under 30ft of water. 

Meanwhile in flood-prone Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, incredible photos showed how large parts have been submerged, with cars left stranded and landmarks surrounded by water after the River Severn reached high levels.

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