The devastating knock-on effects of the worst floods in modern British history continued as river banks reached breaking point and water levels continued to rise.
The unprecedented weather on Friday - the equivalent of a month's rain in an hour - left tens of thousands of people without clean water or electricity.
Thousands of homes filled with water, forcing mass evacuations across central and southern England.
The Environment Agency (EA) said water levels were not expected to peak for another 24 to 36 hours. At their height, some rivers will be more than 20ft higher than normal.
Environment Secretary Hillary Benn warned that more flooding was yet to come.
Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: "I must emphasise that this emergency is far from over. Further flooding is very likely as the Thames and the Severn fill with floodwater from within their catchments."
Eight severe flood warnings and 50 other flood warnings remained in place as further rain in the stricken areas today added to the misery.
EA spokesman Anthony Perry said: "We have not seen flooding of this magnitude before. The benchmark was 1947 and this has already exceeded it."
Severn Trent Water confirmed "at least" 350,000 homes in Gloucestershire would be without water after the failure of its water treatment centre at Mythe, near Tewkesbury. More than 40,000 families are without power
Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends South of the Border....
fluffy
