UK flooding LIVE: Met Office warns of travel chaos as rain hammers down on Britain

An entire county has been plunged into flooding chaos as heavy rain lashes northern England and parts of Scotland. Merseyside has been the unfortunate recipient of a rain deluge today (October 16).

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain that's been in place since 6pm on Tuesday. It remains in place until 9pm today. It said spells of heavy rain may lead to some travel disruption and flooding in places.

In Merseyside, roads have been closed due to flooding, but the police have reported several cars ignoring such signs and continuing to make their way through flooded roads.

In Hereford, the sudden lashing has prompted schools in Peterchurch, Longtown, and Michaelchurch Escley to close.

A statement from the Met Office says: "Areas of heavy rain are expected to develop and push north across the warning area. The first area of rain will continue north this morning, then a second area pushes northeastwards this afternoon before clearing during the evening.

"Many places will see around 10-20 mm of rain, but there is a chance some locations may see considerably more than this over a six hour period, most likely parts of southwest England and south Wales.

"A few places may see 50-80 mm of rain fall in six hours. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible in the south of the warning area, with lightning an additional hazard."

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