A satellite image of the low pressure system sweeping across the UK

In Exton, Hampshire, eight families were evacuated to a local pub after the town was flooded by three feet of water.

Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham, in north east Wales, experienced their worst flooding so far.

In Yorkshire, rain water was moving downstream threatening the villages of Gowdall and Sneith.

Water levels on several northern rivers are rising after more than an inch of rain fell in 24 hours.

Heavy rain

Heavy rain began to fall on Sunday on York, which escaped further flooding over the weekend as water levels peaked without breaching defences.

The Environment Agency said it would be several hours before the fresh downpour had an impact on the city, but warned the rain could continue until Tuesday.

York racecourse provides an unexpected opportunity to try out a dinghy

More flooding is expected across the country as another band of heavy rain coming in from the Atlantic starts to spread from the west, striking the whole of England and Wales.

There was likely to be 35-40mm in 24 hours in most areas, the agency added.

Severe flood warnings were announced on Monday for the River Thames between Henley and Worcester, River Rother in east Sussex, the Western Rother in west Sussex and the River Beult in Kent.

There are now 23 severe flood warnings across England and Wales. A further 66 flood warnings remain in force.

John Prescott inspects the flooding in York

John Prescott has pledged a new national recovery team to help flood victims, with the promise of �51m extra funding for flood defences and warning systems.

Mr Prescott added that he had asked insurance companies to speed up payments.

Flood damage claims were estimated to run to hundreds of millions of pounds.

Experts have also warned homeowners that property values in flood-prone areas are likely to plummet.

Severe flood warnings

River Ouse - Naburn and Acaster Malbis Lower Ouse - Barlby to Selby The Aire at Gowdall Derwent, Lower Derwent - Elvington to Barmby, Malton and Norton Lower Dee - Llangollen to Chester River Severn - Worcester to Gloucester River Rother - Mayfield to Newenden Western Rother - Liss to Midhurst River Beult - Pluckley to Bethersden River Cuckmere - Hellingly Scrasebridge Stream - Lindfield and Haywards Heath River Teise - between Lamberhurst and Yalding Lesser Teise - between Lamberhurst and Yalding River Churnet - Leek to Rocester River Dove - Rocester to Uttoxeter River Frome - Dorchester River Uck - Uckfield River Thames - Henley to Worcester

The south west of England and Wales were hit first on Sunday, with heavy rainfall all day and high winds felling trees and causing travel disruption.

The bad weather swept southern England and moved into the Midlands, where parts of the River Severn are at critical levels.

In York, one of the places worst hit by the recent flooding, river levels fell steadily on Sunday, down by three feet from Saturday morning's peak.

Flood defences in the historic walled city were shored up with 15,000 sandbags in a huge weekend operation involving the emergency services, army and local people.

The long suffering residents of Yalding in Kent are also fearing the worst only a week after much of the village was left underwater when the River Medway burst its banks.

Floodline: 0845 988 1188