Torrential rain weather warning in place across West Berkshire and North Hampshire

More torrential rain is expected to hit the district today (Thursday), with another Met Office warning in place.

The yellow warning for rain covers 15 hours from midday until 3am tomorrow morning and adds to worries about flooding across the area.

The rain is falling onto ground already saturated by Storm Henk earlier in the week and there are concerns it will lead to further flooding and travel disruption.

The Met Office said that although the track of the heaviest rainfall remains uncertain, there is a chance of up to 50mm falling in six to nine hours across part of the warning area.

In West Berkshire there are already a number of flood warnings, meaning flooding is expected, and flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, including on the River Pang from East Ilsley to Pangbourne and Sulham Brook; the River Kennet from Thatcham to Reading, the River Thames at Pangbourne and the River Kennet from Hungerford to Newbury.

West Berkshire Council also confirmed that planning is underway for potential groundwater pumping in Great Shefford.

It said this could happen in the next week and would require temporary road closures in the area.

It also added that flood waters are expected to continue to rise this week and SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Network) are also expecting power outages (up to 30 high voltage faults) across the network and are scaling up resources in preparation.

Storm drains are also already overflowing due to the recent heavy rain, causing untreated sewage to spill into local waterways.

Discharges have been recorded at a number of locations across West Berkshire.