Homes have been left without power and cars left stranded as floods overwhelmed parts of England and Wales after being battered by heavy rain.
Stunned residents have reported seeing raw sewage running down roads, with shocking photos showing the aftermath of massive downpours.
Two pubs were among several buildings flooded in the centre of York when a nearby river burst its banks as heavy rain batters the country.
The nation was deluged with rain and strong winds overnight with the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning until 5pm today across much of South West England and Wales, and Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Elsewhere Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, was submerged in flood water this morning.
In York, both the Lowther pub and the nearby Kings Arms ended up underwater when the River Ouse burst its banks, with pavements becoming impassable.
Raw sewage was also seen running down roads as as result of the heavy rain.
Meanwhile, roads in Cardiff have been left submerged following heavy rain, as Natural Resources Wales warns that flooding is expected in many parts, as it has issued flood warnings.
Several roads across Wales have also been closed as a result of fallen trees as strong winds and heavy rain continue to batter Wales. Train services also seeing major delays.
It comes amid fears from the Met Office that communities may also be cut off by flooded roads.
Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “The jet stream is approaching the UK from the west and sending us further areas of low pressure, with tightly packed isobars across the UK.
“That continues to be the case as further low-pressure systems deepen and get sent in from the west.
“It’s going to stay blustery, with some strong gusts in the west in particular and these lows will continue to send us outbreaks of rain and showers heading into the weekend.
“With all that wet weather coming in, there are concerns, particularly for those areas that have already seen so much rain across western England and Wales.
“The wettest weather is likely to see 60-80mm falling across the Brecon Beacons and Exmoor.”
The Environment Agency has issued 35 flood warnings and 114 flood alerts for areas across England where flooding is expected or possible.
New warnings were today issued for the River Exe near Tiverton and the River Avon from Malmesbury to Chippenham.
Natural Resources Wales has issued eight flooding warnings, along parts of The River Severn, River Vyrnwy and River Teme, and 38 flood alerts.
The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning today for rain, until 5pm, across much of South West England, Wales, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Downpours could also cause delays or cancellations to public transport and spray and flooding could lead to treacherous driving conditions and road closures.
And in Ironbridge and Shrewsbury in Shropshire and Bewdley in Worcestershire, flood barriers have been put up in an attempt to stop the River Severn bursting its banks.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has also issue five flood alerts across south-west Scotland, covering Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire and Arran, Central Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway, and West Central Scotland.
It comes after Newport City Council closed a footpath on Wednesday after part of it “collapsed into the River Ebbw”.
On Wednesday, Mark Garratt, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Continued heavy rainfall across England means that minor localised surface water and river flooding is probable in parts of the Midlands and the South West of England today, with impacts potentially continuing throughout the week.
“With the ground already saturated, communities in these areas should check their flood risk.
“The Environment Agency is monitoring flood levels, operating flood gates and barriers at locations across the country, and ensuring debris screens are clear from blockages to ensure communities are better protected.
“We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and urge people not to drive through flood water as just 30 cm of flowing water is enough to move your car.”
Henry Barnes, Emergency Response Operations Manager, Wales said: "The British Red Cross emergency response team remains on standby to help, should anything happen and should our support be needed.
"We understand that seeing reports of high river levels and flooding can be stressful and upsetting. Especially if you live in an area with a high flood risk like Rhondda Cynon Taf or have previously experienced flooding yourself.
"We urge people to check their flood risk and check weather warnings. We know from experience that flooding can happen shockingly quickly.
"Weather warnings can help you prepare for flooding before it happens, whilst providing peace of mind for people in areas less likely to be affected.
"We have advice on steps people can take to better prepare themselves for flooding and respond to flooding if it does occur. This includes actions they can take before, during and after a flood."
