More than 20 flood warnings are in place in England and Wales

In parts of the Lake District in Cumbria 7in (180mm) of rain has fallen in the past 24 hours.

There had been "extraordinary" rainfall - up to 5in (127mm) - in North Wales, the BBC Weather Centre said. Flooding was likely in Manchester, it added.

Of 23 flood warnings issued by the Environment Agency, nine related to the River Severn which runs from mid-Wales to the Bristol Channel.

BBC meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker warned of more rain throughout the day in the worst-affected areas.

"The areas where we don't want the rainfall again - north-western parts of Wales, Cumbria and Lancashire - there is yet more rain to come," he added.

"There is a very significant risk of some flooding for the rest of the day."

And he said further torrential rainfall was expected in northern parts of the UK during the week.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said that, over the weekend, a severe flood warning had been issued for the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, that had since been downgraded.