UK hit by flash flooding as Met Office issues urgent warning

Parts of Britain have been struck by more flash floods as the Met Office warns of more heavy rain throughout the evening and into Friday morning.

The forecaster has issued an amber warning for areas of the Midlands and south of the country, set to come into force at 6pm on Thursday and last for 12 hours.

Yellow rain warnings had already been in place for large parts of England and Wales and western parts of Northern Ireland.

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Areas affected by the amber warning – including Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and the West Midlands – could see 30-40mm of rainfall within three hours, according to the forecaster.

Parts of Hitchin have been struck by flooding, with North Herts Police confirming the closure of Cambridge Road in the town centre.

Parts of Solihull have also been hit, with West Midlands Railway warning of disruption and cancellations.

As of 5.30pm, the Environment Agency has 36 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 100 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

Areas of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are listed as being the most vulnerable.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Toro) is also forecasting that much of the South East could see lightning, winds up to 50mph and even “isolated brief tornadoes”.

This includes much of East Anglia, the south-east Midlands and central southern England.

The Met Office said: “Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight.

“Some places, especially across