• Around 50 homes hit by flash flooding in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, following heavy downpours
  • Entire months rainfall hits Pershore, Worcestershire, in the space of three hours as the area is hit by 56mm of rain
  • Two flood warnings and 13 flood alerts put in place by the Environment Agency
  • Up to 40mm of rain could hit the east of England in the space of a few hours today
More than 50 homes have been hit by flash flooding as parts of Britain were hit by a month's worth of rainfall in the space of a few hours after the heatwave came to an end.

Nottinghamshire Police said houses in Southwell were particularly badly hit by the extreme weather, while numerous properties, businesses and roads across the county were affected.

Today the Environment Agency had two flood warnings in place in Somerset and 13 active flood alerts as Britain was braced for further downpours.
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Flooded: Cars are completely submerged in water in Southwell, Nottingham, last night after a heavy downpour
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Summer soaking: A car is almost completely covered by muddy water after a downpour caused flash flooding in Southwell, Nottingham, yesterday

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'Mid-air tornado': A funnel cloud - which is a tornado that doesn't touch the ground - is seen near Chesterfield, Derbyshire, as Britain is hit by bad weather.
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A rainfall radar (right) shows the extent of heavy rains from the Midlands to the North of England yesterday evening, with particularly heavy band around the Nottingham area
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Violent storm: A bolt of lightning strikes Piccadilly railway station in the centre of Manchester during heavy downpours yesterday
Up to 40mm of rain could hit the east of England and Scotland in the space of a few hours and cause localised flooding.

A month's rain fell in just a few hours in some areas yesterday.

Pershore in Worcestershire recorded 56mm (2.2 inches) of rain in a three-hour period yesterday, more than the area's 50mm average total for the whole of July, the Met Office said.

Monks Wood in Cambridgeshire saw 33mm (1.3 inches) in the 12 hours to 1pm yesterday, while nearby Brampton recorded 48mm (1.9 inches) in the same period.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesman said pockets of standing water remain in various locations and drivers are being urged to take caution on the roads.

They are also advised to be aware that, in some areas, damage has been caused to drain covers and there is debris in the roads.

An advice centre will be opened at Southwell Town Hall, The Burgage, Southwell, later today for those who need flood-related advice or assistance.

The force spokesman added: 'Members of the public who have been working in flood water are reminded that hand washing is essential.'

The A612 remains closed between Southwell and Thurgaton to enable urgent clean-up operations to take place.

Council staff will be working through the night to clear the road, and drivers are asked to take an alternative route.

In Cundy Hill, Southwell, a tree has fallen and diversions are in place.

In Ramsbottom, Lancashire, a Victorian church was badly damaged by lightning yesterday.

The bolt hit one of four stone turrets on a tower of St Andrew's, showering the area with chunks of debris. One large stone landed in the playground of a primary school and another crashed through the church roof.

In Durrington, Wiltshire, Rosalind Bassenger was made homeless after her £350,000 bungalow was engulfed in a fireball on being hit by lightning. The blaze took 35 firefighters nearly five hours to get under control.

The Met Office had weather alerts in place for heavy rain across much of the UK yesterday, and more serious warnings for parts of northern England and the East Midlands last night.

Tony Gray, a spokesman for the Met Office, said: 'There is a yellow warning for rain which is restricted to the east of England. It covers a swathe of Anglia, the north-east and coastal regions as well as a little bit in land.

'In these areas we are looking at rainfall of between 20 and 40mm within the space of a few hours. Most of the showers will clear fairly quickly and in the north-east later in the day.

'When we have that heavy rainfall onto very very solid ground it runs off very quickly and there is the potential for flooding.'

A police spokeswoman said this morning that a lot of the water in Southwell had flowed away, but road closures were expected to remain in place because of the silt that had been deposited as a result of the flooding.

Residents could seek help at advice centres and would be allowed back into their homes as soon as possible, and depending on damage caused by the water.