Flood alerts for UK after heavy rainfall
Up to 60mm of rain could fall in Wales and south-west England on Thursday
More rain as flood warnings rise
Rain puts rivers on flood alert
Communities in south-west England and south Wales have been warned to brace themselves for flooding as heavy rain on Thursday persists into Friday.
The Environment Agency (EA) said river levels were high with the ground approaching saturation point.
Localised floods have already hit parts of Wales, with firefighters called to pump cellars in Machynlleth, Powys and Ogmore Vale in Bridgend.
There are also flood warnings for parts of north-east England and the Midlands.
An EA spokesman said rivers were reacting to overnight rainfall and remained relatively high.
"With further rain forecast tonight and tomorrow, and the ground approaching saturation point, further flood alerts and flood warnings may be issued across Wales and south-west England," he said.
"These may remain in place over the weekend and into next week."
In north Wales, a delivery van driver has been stranded in his car in floods near Machynlleth since midnight. A recovery team is due to tow him to safety.
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And a woman in her 90s in the same area was rescued from a house in Dyfi Bridge after being stuck upstairs because of flooding.
A total of 78 flood alerts and 10 flood warnings remain in place for England and Wales.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has also issued one flood warning for Lyne Water and five flood watches - for the Borders, the Kyle of Sutherland and rivers in Edinburgh and Lothians, Falkirk and Orkney.
In north-east England there are flood warnings for part of the the River Derwent at Buttercrambe Mill and part of the River Ouse at Naburn Lock.
In south-west England, warnings are in place on the River Tamar from Tamarstone to Polson Bridge, the River Torridge from Dolton to Bideford, and River Exe from Tiverton to Exeter.
In the Midlands, there is a warning for the River Wye from Hay to Hereford.
The warnings in Wales extend to the A487 at Dyfi Bridge, Pennal and parts of Machynlleth, the River Rheidol at Aberystwyth, the River Ely at St Fagans, and River Teifi at Lampeter and Llanybyther.
The BBC's Jay Wynne said the heavy rain in south-west England and Wales would ease off during the day on Friday, leading to a dry and breezy night.
"On Saturday there will be very strong winds and heavy rain from north Wales northwards, and it will be windy everywhere," he said.
"Heavy rain will slowly slip southwards Saturday night into Sunday."
