UK weather: More flooding misery expected as downpours continue to wreak havoc

Flash flooding is expected to spark more misery for commuters this morning as heavy downpours continue to wreak havoc on the UK.

Homes were evacuated and hundreds of people were left trapped in a shopping centre after floods in the north of England on Thursday night.

Cars became stranded in floodwater and roads were left impassable to traffic as torrential rain battered some parts of the country.

Flash floods wreak havoc on north of England - In pictures

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Met Office warnings were in place, with commuters expected to face more chaos on roads and rail lines on Friday morning due to severe conditions.

An amber weather warning for heavy rain covering parts of Yorkshire and the Midlands was issued and communities were bracing themselves for more of the deluge.

A total of 116 flood warnings remain in place, mostly in Yorkshire, a Met Office spokesman said.

Travel chaos: Cars were left stranded as heavy rain sparked floods in Sheffied
PA

Flash flooding last night sparked a mudslide in Mansfield, forcing locals to flee their homes after forecasters issued a "risk-to-life" warning.

Thirty-five homes were cleared out as a precaution in Mansfield after the mudslide in the area on Thursday night.

Shoppers were ordered by police to stay put amid severe flooding which left the surrounding area gridlocked.

The city was one of the worst-hit places with a number of roads left impassable to traffic, with cars left stranded in floodwater.

Severe weather has also caused train services to be cancelled and Northern Rail issued a "do not travel" warning to some commuters.

Flooding closed train lines between Sheffield and Gainsborough, Sheffield and Lincoln and Hebden Bridge and Manchester Victoria.

A man wades through flood water in Sheffield after the area was hit with flooding
PA

By 9pm, the Environment Agency has issued 98 flood warnings, mainly in the Yorkshire region, and 116 flood alerts.

Nottinghamshire Police said officers were called to Bank End Close in Mansfield alongside the fire service just before 5pm.

There were concerns for the safety of people living in the houses following the mudslide and evacuations were ordered.

Concerns have been raised about the levels of rivers running through the Sheffield.

The council closed Millhouses Park, where a boy, 14, was swept to his death in the River Sheaf during floods in the city in 2007.

Meadowhall Shopping Centre, which was also flooded in 2007, said its Christmas Live event, was forced to cancel its Christmas Live event.

It was expected to be attended by thousands of people on Thursday evening.

Sheffield was the worst affected by the severe weather. A danger-to-life warning was in place
PA

It said in a statement: "Due to the adverse weather and the subsequent impact on the public transport it is with regret that the Christmas Live event has been cancelled."

Trams were also stopped short of the complex by the M1 motorway due to "heavy rain putting the Tinsley tram bridge at risk".

The firm said that roads are also closed in the corresponding areas, meaning "customers should not attempt to travel".

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy rain until 6am on Friday for an area between Sheffield, Manchester and Bradford.

It has also issued yellow warnings for surrounding regions as it said almost 40mm of rain had fallen in the Sheffield area between midnight and noon.

Forecaster Craig Snell said it could be that the total hits 100mm by Friday morning.

Further north, concerns were growing in the Calder valley as river levels began to rise on Thursday.

Precautionary flood barriers were put in place in Mytholmroyd, which was badly hit in the 2015 Boxing Day floods.

A man attempts to cycle on a flooded street after heavy rain battered Sheffield
PA

Chris Wilding, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Heavy rain could lead to surface water and river flooding across parts of northern England today and into tomorrow, particularly in parts of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.

"Persistent showers may also bring localised river and surface water flooding to parts of southern England today and tomorrow.

"Our incident rooms are open and we are working closely with local authorities and partners to reduce the risk of flooding. Our field teams are ready to deploy temporary flood barriers to help protect people and property if needed.

"We advise people to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water as just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."

South Yorkshire Police said there had been "significant issues" in Doncaster, with Bentley, Toll Bar and Scawthorpe the worst affected areas.

Police were also called to the Parkgate Shopping Park in Rotherham last night, amid reports shoppers were trapped inside due to flood waters.

South Yorkshire Police tweeted that they were working to move "a number of people" who were stranded in the complex to "a place of safety".

The highest rainfall in the country on Thursday was recorded at Swineshaw in the Peak District, which had 112 millimetres in the 24 hours to 2am.

"There were a lot of other places that had 80 millilitres or more, especially in Yorkshire," a Met Office spokesman said.

"The rains should clear by lunchtime, with a fine weekend ahead, but the flood warnings will stay in place for quite a while."

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