Flood warnings stay as rain eases (From Surrey Comet)

Flood warnings stay as rain eases

5:03pm Tuesday 10th July 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Flood warnings remain in place as rainfall continues across the country.

Experts said that even the comparatively small amounts of rain could still cause problems in previously rain-drenched areas.

The Environment Agency (EA) has eight flood warnings - six in the South West and two in the Midlands - and 27 flood alerts across England.

Showers hit most parts of the UK, causing problems to the transport network and public events, including the England cricket match in Manchester. Experts predict the unsettled weather will last until at least Thursday.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning of rain for large parts of England and south-east Scotland. Spokesman Charles Powell said: "The rainfall amounts themselves are not huge. We're not talking about the same as this time last week, but we're still seeing up to half an inch to one inch. Even though the rainfall amounts are quite low the problems arise because the grounds are saturated."

Aisling Creevey, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "We've still had plenty of showers today and they've been quite heavy in places, but compared to the heaviest rainfall in the past couple of days it isn't as severe. We're looking at rain continuing across Scotland. The south-east of England will have the worst of the showers, but there will be dry places."

She added that the South West could see 10-30mm of rainfall on Thursday.

England's final one-day international match against Australia at Old Trafford - due to begin at 2pm - was delayed until at least 5.30pm by rain. Meanwhile, the A35 in Dorset was closed in both directions between Monkeys Jump Roundabout in Dorchester and the Longland's Lane junction in Winterbourne Abbas, because of flooding.

Parts of the A38 in Derbyshire were also closed due to floods. An amended rail service was in operation between Exeter and Yeovil, with normal services not expected to resume before Wednesday.

Meanwhile visitors travelling to the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate were told to use park and ride services as some parking spaces in fields were flooded.