Floods cause road and rail chaos
Flood warnings are in place across the country
Flooding and torrential rain has caused widespread chaos across the country, forcing the closure of key road and rail routes and threatening homes. Blizzards also struck areas as heavy snowfall was forecast in parts of north-east England and Scotland.
There were problems for rail passengers and drivers as the West Coast Mainline was shut and roads were closed.
Flood sirens were sounded in Lincolnshire and a nursery and factory in Yorkshire were evacuated.
At 1700 GMT on Monday, 15 severe flood warnings and 113 flood warnings were in place across England and Wales.
The West Coast Mainline was closed in Lancashire between Lancaster and Preston, disrupting services between London and Scotland.
In Pictures: Flooded Britain
Your flooding pictures
In Lincolnshire, the Environment Agency sounded flood sirens in Louth and Horncastle on Monday to give people advance warning.
Residents were told to protect their homes as water levels on the River Lud continued to rise.
Drivers were also warned of standing water on roads in the Louth area.
In Yorkshire, the Environment Agency said there could be "extreme danger" to life and property in parts of Huddersfield, where the River Colne was expected to burst its banks.
Severe warnings were also in place in Wakefield and Skipton.
Traffic almost came to a standstill on the M1 and the M62 as heavy rain continued to fall across the region.
Driver rescued
About 60 children were being evacuated from a nursery in Elland, near Huddersfield.
The children were moved from the building to Brighouse fire station after 3ft (0.91m) of water flooded the ground floor.
Nursery owner Joanne Bradbury Wood told BBC News 24: "The children were quite excited - I think they thought they were going on a little excursion to the fire station."
In Silsden, about 60 people were evacuated from a factory after a local beck burst its banks and the car park flooded.
FLOOD HOT SPOTS
Severe flood warnings in place in Huddersfield, Wakefield, and Skipton in Yorkshire
Severe flood warning in place at River Severn, Shrewsbury
Rail services disrupted in Lancashire and Yorkshire
Roads closed across the country
Flood sirens sounded in Louth and Horncastle in Lincolnshire
Flooding in Yorkshire
Flooding in Lincolnshire
Flooding in Shropshire
A woman and child were rescued by Humber Fire and Rescue Service crews after their car got stuck in flood water on the B1246 road between Pocklington and Warter.
Network Rail said flooding had forced the closure of the railway line between Sheffield and Barnsley.
Northern Rail said there were no trains operating from Leeds to either York, Harrogate, Bradford, Manchester Victoria, Sheffield or Blackpool North.
Lines were also suspended from Skipton station to Morecambe, Carlisle and Keighley, as well as from Ilkley to Guiseley.
A severe flood warning was issued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, and many roads in Shropshire were closed.
A 45-year-old woman was rescued by police after becoming stranded in her car overnight when it was swept away by a flooded stream.
In Cumbria, motorists were being urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary and several roads were closed.
In Gloucestershire, residents were being asked to remain vigilant to the risk of flooding.
Surface water on roads caused some disruption in the county on Monday, with several A and B roads closed.
Due to the closure of the West Coast Mainline, trains from Scotland were being terminated at Lancaster, while services from Birmingham and London were terminating at Preston.
