Heavy rain warning

Rain this morning (Friday) is expected to be followed by downpours throughout the day, with up to 90milimetres falling in some parts of the county.

The Environment Agency has said it expects rivers to be able to cope with the heavy rain but there was a possibility of widespread surface water flooding.

EA regional director, Howard Davidson, said: "We don't want to cause unnecessary alarm. If rainfall is lower than predicted it will be wet but any flooding will be localised and from surface water rather than from rivers. If the rainfall is higher than predicted we could see more problems developing.

"We will be monitoring the rainfall and river flows very carefully over the next couple of days and will have people out across the region in case of flooding."

Details of flood warnings can be found on the Environment Agency's website www.environment-agency.gov.uk or by calling the floodline number on 08459 881188.