Rain forecasts raise flooding fears (From Hereford Times)

Rain forecasts raise flooding fears

1:08pm Monday 30th April 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Parts of England look set to be hit with more heavy rain, raising fresh concerns over possible flooding.

After a weekend of downpours and winds of up to 70mph in south-west England and Wales, which brought down trees, left thousands of homes without power and disrupted rail services, the Environment Agency said the situation was improving.

While flood waters had swept into low-lying fields and some roads, only around 20 properties had flooded across the country.

Unfinished flood defences in Upton-on-Severn, which had to be shored up over the weekend, had kept water out and Tewkesbury, badly hit during the 2007 floods, had experienced some localised flooding but nothing unusual for the area, the Environment Agency said.

However, 37 flood warnings and almost 140 less serious flood alerts are still in place for England and Wales, with most of the warnings concentrated in the South West.

The Environment Agency said southern England looked set to receive another 0.8in to 1.2in (20mm to 30mm) of rain overnight, raising concerns over how already-saturated river catchments would cope with the latest downpours.

First Great Western services were being affected by flooding between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, with a reduced train service running between London Paddington and Cardiff and Swansea and diversions in place in both directions. Trains are not calling at Bristol Parkway but will call additionally at Patchway, and a bus service is running between Patchway and Bristol Parkway. First Great Western warned journey times would be extended by up to 50 minutes.

Badminton horse trials fell victim to the weather, with organisers announcing the equestrian competition had been cancelled as the ground was "totally waterlogged and partially flooded" following the heavy rain.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been due to attend the final day of the trials, which were to have run from Thursday to next Monday, to watch the showjumping element and present the final prizes.

Despite the heavy rain over the weekend, swathes of England are still in a state of drought with warnings that the downpours were not enough to counteract the effects of two unusually dry winters.