Flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency as bad weather sweeps across much of England.
Flood warnings have been issued by the Environment Agency as bad weather sweeps across much of England.
Warnings have been issued for Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
Warnings have been issued for Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire.
Train services have been badly disrupted by heavy rainfall, with services in Yorkshire and the East Midlands particularly affected.
Train services have been badly disrupted by heavy rainfall, with services in Yorkshire and the East Midlands particularly affected.
The Met Office has warned of heavy rain in much of England, with persistent downpours continuing on Friday.
The Met Office has warned of heavy rain in much of England, with persistent downpours continuing.
Heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We have had very, very heavy rainfall overnight going into Friday. It's not over yet and will be moving slowly northwards.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We have had very, very heavy rainfall overnight going into Friday. It's not over yet and will be moving slowly northwards.
"We would remind people to be vigilant and to make sure they are aware of the threat of flooding."
"We would remind people to be vigilant and to make sure they are aware of the threat of flooding."
The Met Office's heavy rain warnings start in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and extend north to the Scottish border.
The Met Office's heavy rain warnings start in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and extend north to the Scottish border.
It said about 1.5cm to 2.5cm of rainfall was possible in some areas.
Further warnings have also been made for the entire South West and also Wales, with the northern area likely to be particularly affected.
A spokesman said: "The heaviest band of rain currently lies just north of the Humber, towards Liverpool Bay. This will be moving northwards through the day."
It's just the sheer force and amount of rain that the West Midlands, in particular, has experienced overnight that has caused these problems Jim Rowe, Virgin Trains
It said several centimetres of rainfall could fall in some areas over a short period of time.
A spokesman said: "The heaviest band of rain currently lies just north of the Humber, towards Liverpool Bay. This will be moving northwards through the day.
"North East England may experience 2cm to 3cm of rain over a few hours, and it could be heavier than that.
"RAF Leeming near York has reported 5.1cm in four hours. That's the sort of thing that's possible across northern England on Friday."
Heavy rain has also continued to fall in Northern Ireland, and the Met Office has warned of further rain accompanied by strong winds, with the risk of localised flooding.
Heavy rain has also continued to fall in Northern Ireland, and the Met Office has warned of further rain accompanied by strong winds, with the risk of localised flooding.
The rainfall will continue into the weekend, following on from Tuesday's flooding.
The rainfall will continue into the weekend, following on from Tuesday's flooding.
Train disruption
Train disruption
The rain caused widespread disruption to rail services in some parts of England on Friday morning.
The rain caused widespread disruption to rail services in some parts of England on Friday morning.
Network Rail reported several disruptions in the Yorkshire region, with problems in areas including Bradford, Skipton and Barnsley.
Network Rail reported several disruptions in the Yorkshire region, with problems in areas including Bradford, Skipton and Barnsley.
Services in the Birmingham area were also severely disrupted.
Services in the Birmingham area were also severely disrupted.
The lines from the city to both Wolverhampton and Rugby have been closed and services from Shropshire have been stopping in Wolverhampton.
The lines from the city to both Wolverhampton and Rugby have been closed and services from Shropshire have been stopping in Wolverhampton.
This bus was held up by floods in Crane Moor, north of Sheffield
Virgin West Coast trains have not been stopping at the Birmingham stations and have been using an alternative route via Nuneaton and Rugby.
Virgin West Coast trains have not been stopping at the Birmingham stations and have been using an alternative route via Nuneaton and Rugby.
Jim Rowe, a spokesman for Virgin Trains, says services have been disrupted because of the levels of rainfall.
''It's just the sheer force and amount of rain that the West Midlands, in particular, has experienced overnight that has caused these problems.
"When you have the rain to the degree that we had overnight - and it just literally torrents down - there's not going to be a lot you can do.
"And once it gets above rail level then we have to consider the safety aspects obviously.''
Central Trains said all services between Birmingham and the East Midlands had been suspended due to severe flooding, and that services linking Birmingham with Walsall and south Staffordshire were also suspended.
Central Trains said all services between Birmingham and the East Midlands had been suspended due to severe flooding, and that services linking Birmingham with Walsall and south Staffordshire were also suspended.
Meanwhile, police dealt with several incidents in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley due to heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, police dealt with several incidents in Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley due to heavy rainfall.
Flooding caused roads to be closed and homes to be evacuated in South Yorkshire.
Flooding caused roads to be closed and homes to be evacuated in South Yorkshire.
The fire brigade there said it was at full stretch dealing with flooding problems caused by heavy overnight rain.
The fire brigade there said it was at full stretch dealing with flooding problems caused by heavy overnight rain.
Homes evacuated
Homes evacuated
There are reports that the river Don in Sheffield has burst its banks causing flooding to some properties.
There are reports that the river Don in Sheffield has burst its banks causing flooding to some properties.
A flood warning has been issued for the River Tame from Water Orton, in north Warwickshire, to Lea Marston.
A flood warning has been issued for the River Tame from Water Orton, in north Warwickshire, to Lea Marston.
Heavy rain has brought flooding to Northamptonshire, with Kettering badly affected.
Heavy rain has brought flooding to Northamptonshire, with Kettering badly affected.
And more than 20 people had to leave their homes after a village in Hertfordshire was hit by flash floods.
And more than 20 people had to leave their homes after a village in Hertfordshire was hit by flash floods.
Fire and emergency planning teams were called to Barley, near Royston, after severe flooding which affected about 10 properties.
Fire and emergency planning teams were called to Barley, near Royston, after severe flooding which affected about 10 properties.
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