More than 140 flood warnings in place as travel chaos spread

Heavy rain has caused fresh flooding, landslides and travel chaos across the UK - and more bad weather is expected today.

The Environment Agency has posted 147 flood warnings requiring immediate action, along with a further 177 warnings of possible flooding.

Train services up and down the country have been cancelled or delayed as a result of flooding and landslides.

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British Transport Police in Birmingham yesterday tweeted: “We strongly advise people NOT to travel today unless it's absolutely necessary. Due to adverse weather a vast amount of trains are being cancelled or delayed due to flooding and landslides.”

And the train problems are set to get worse over the weekend, with a planned strike by workers on West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway, says the Birmingham Mail.

Widespread flooding also saw dozens of schools across the UK being closed yesterday, and the Department of Education told the Daily Mail that there could be “significantly more” closures today.

Meanwhile, emergency responders and local authorities are working with the Environment Agency in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to protect people and property from the latest extreme weather.

Almost 50mm (2in) of rain hit Tal-y-Maes in Wales within 24 hours up to yesterday evening. Flood warnings were announced across the south of the country from Cornwall to Kent, across Chester and into the Northwest, ITV reports.

Around 200 British Army workers were deployed earlier this week to the village of Fishlake, South Yorkshire, to help with a major operation to pump water out of hundreds of flooded homes.

The prime minister visited the village on Wednesday, but was met by angry locals shouting “you took your time”.

One resident told Boris Johnson: “I'm not very happy about talking to you so, if you don't mind, I'll just mope on with what I'm doing.”

Amid all the weather misery, there is some good news. The Met Office said while there will be more rain today, England and Wales will be “drier than Thursday”.