UK braced for more heavy rain after storms

Waves crashed over the harbour wall at Newhaven in Sussex

Britain is braced for further heavy rain in areas already saturated after being battered by storms.

The Met Office has severe weather warnings for rain for southern and south-west England and south Wales from Thursday afternoon.


The Environment Agency has two severe flood warnings in the Somerset Levels.
A meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra will be chaired by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles in place of the environment secretary.

Owen Paterson has been forced to pull out of leading the government's response to the floods to have emergency surgery on a detached retina.
'Rain is back'
Forecasters said there could be 20mm-40mm (0.8in-1.6in) on saturated ground, with further bouts of rain to come into the weekend

  

BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor predicts more rain and strong winds throughout February

BBC weather presenter Matt Taylor said: "After some dry and bright weather to begin with across central southern parts of England and Wales, I'm afraid to say the rain is back - some heavy and persistent rain nudging its way northwards through the afternoon to take us into the early evening rush-hour.