UK weather live: Travel chaos as flooding shuts M5 after heavy rain

Train passengers have been hit by travel delays as railways flood amid heavy rainfall.

Images from Wellington station in the West Midlands show train tracks filled with water as people across the midlands and south are hit by travel disruption.

Network Rail said journeys between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton are affected as it is working to reduce water levels to ensure the line can open as soon as possible.

Parts of the route remain closed off this morning after Avon Fire and Rescue Service were called at around 1am to rescue three people stuck on the road.

National Highways says the M5 is closed northbound between J16 and J14 and the southbound carriageway is closed between J14 and J15 as emergency services work to clear the flooding.

It comes as heavy rain continues to fall on some parts of the country following a week of wet weather and flooding.

As of 6am, the Environment Agency had 63 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 121 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

As we approach 6am, here are the current weather warnings in place for the UK, issued by the Met Office.

The amber warning for rain is due to expire at 6am, but the yellow weather warning for the Midlands and the south of the country will end at 9am.

Meanwhile, the weather forcast for 7am shows a dry start to the day for many.

Earlier this week, before Thursday night’s rain, many parts of the country were impacted by heavy rain.

In Northamptonshire, residents at the Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park had to be evacuated due to flooding on Tuesday night.

AFC Wimbledon in south London said its pitch suffered “significant damage” after the nearby River Wandle broke its banks.

Here’s some pictures looking back:

In Bristol, a popular swimming pool has had to close after heavy rain earlier this week damaged its roof.

The Bristol South Swimming Pool had recently reopened after a refubishment, but following downpours earlier this week, and subsequent roof damage, the pool has had to close “with immediate effect”.

It’s not yet known when it will reopen.

Network Rail, which manages stations and railway lines across the country, has issued a warning to passengers who will be catching services in the morning.

Following the wet weather tonight in many areas of the country, the group warns rain can slow down journeys, causing disruptions for users.

As of 11.20pm, the Environment Agency had 51 flood warnings in place across England, meaning flooding is expected, and 120 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible.

Areas of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire are listed as being the most vulnerable.

The Met Office said: “Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight.

“Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours.

“This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears.”