Storms batter Britain - and there's more to come

Dozens of roads across the country have been closed by flooding and landslides, with several schools forced to shut.

A month's rain could fall in just 24 hours, according to Met Office forecasters who issued a severe weather warning for the capital. They added that commuters would be worst affected.

"We are going to see thunderstorms along with very, very, heavy rainfall at peak commuter time tonight," said John Hammond of the Met Office.

"That will mean a lot of standing water on the roads as the rainfall will be exceptionally heavy in places. It's going to be very unpleasant for anyone trying to get home or leave London."

Thunderstorms and high winds are predicted, and experts say flash floods will make driving conditions more dangerous. Mr Hammond added: "The heavy rain will be shortlived, although showers will continue all weekend."

In Plymouth, a couple believed to be in their twenties were killed when their car hit a tree.

A man in the Bere Alston area of west Devon had to be rescued from his car by firefighters after he was trapped by a tree branch.

In the Cynon Valley in Wales, a woman and her baby were trapped in a house after water rose to a height of five feet outside, while gusts of more than 60mph were recorded at headlands in Torbay today.

A number of roads were under water in Gloucestershire and others in Gwent were closed after a landslide. Forecasters said 40mm of rain had fallen in Caerphilly in south Wales and on Exmoor.

The Environment Agency has 27 flood watches in place, mainly in Wales. Severe weather warnings were issued by the Met Office for much of the country, including all of Wales and south-west England.

The AA has also reported a higher than normal number of breakdowns as cars ran into trouble after driving through floodwater. Heavy showers are expected to continue across the UK tomorrow, with it gradually drying up from the west on Sunday.