Worcestershire’s cricket ground is left underwater as the River Severn bursts its banks

Torrential rain that has shut down schools and caused travel chaos is continuing today – but forecasters predict it will ease tomorrow morning to provide a weekend’s respite for flood-hit Britons.  

There are 116 flood warnings in place covering much of England and parts of Wales following heavy rainfall last night.

The wet weather created railway disruption this morning, with many services in Yorkshire being delayed or cancelled.

But the Met Office is predicting better conditions over the weekend, with spokesman Oli Claydon saying: ‘In a nutshell, not fantastic, bright blue skies for the weekend, but in terms of rainfall it will be a much better picture.

‘There will be a few showers knocking around, but nothing in terms of accumulations of rainfall like we’ve seen over the last week.’

Several schools in Gloucester and Warwickshire remain closed today because of the poor weather conditions. The Department of Education said 22 were closed yesterday but told MailOnline there would be ‘significantly more’ today.        

Cars stuck in deep flood water in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull, West Midlands, this morning, as dozens of flood warnings remain in place 

A three-day forecasts shows Britain covered in thick cloud, heavy rain and snow showers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

A three-day forecasts shows Britain covered in thick cloud, heavy rain and snow showers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 

A dramatic photo taken this morning in Yorkshire by members of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, which is helping colleagues in the region

A dramatic photo taken this morning in Yorkshire by members of the West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service, which is helping colleagues in the region 

The River Windrush near Burford in the Cotswolds, which has burst its banks and was today seen deluging its floodplain with water

The River Windrush near Burford in the Cotswolds, which has burst its banks and was today seen deluging its floodplain with water 

The town of St Ives in Cambridgeshire was surrounded by flood water today after the River Great Ouse burst it banks

The town of St Ives in Cambridgeshire was surrounded by flood water today after the River Great Ouse burst it banks

Cars stuck in flood water near a ford in Catherine-de-Barnes. Dozens of schools across Britain have been closed today

Cars stuck in flood water near a ford in Catherine-de-Barnes. Dozens of schools across Britain have been closed today 

A measurement signs show the flood waters had reached nearly four feet at a road in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull

A measurement signs show the flood waters had reached nearly four feet at a road in Catherine-de-Barnes, Solihull 

Emergency services operating pumps in Bentley, South Yorkshire, where heavy rain continued to fall overnight

Emergency services operating pumps in Bentley, South Yorkshire, where heavy rain continued to fall overnight 

Emergency services teams working late in Bentley, Yorkshire, where hundreds of tonnes of water was being pumped away yesterday

Emergency services teams working late in Bentley, Yorkshire, where hundreds of tonnes of water was being pumped away yesterday 

A lorry lying on the verge of a flooded road this morning, as pictured by Twitter user Allan Leedham, from Tamworth in Staffordshire

A lorry lying on the verge of a flooded road this morning, as pictured by Twitter user Allan Leedham, from Tamworth in Staffordshire 

Forecaster Oli Claydon added: ‘Where we are at the moment in terms of much of the UK is that it’s fairly dry and cloudy with a few scattered showers around.

‘However, that’s going to change later as we get a pulse of rain that’s going to be moving in from the South East later on into parts of Kent and Sussex.’

He said that wet weather will move north and westwards on Friday night, but only around 10mm to 20mm of rainfall is predicted in the South East.

Mr Claydon said that there would be some rainfall in flood-affected areas on Friday and Saturday, but ‘nothing to be concerned about’.

Floodwater covers fields and farmland around Haw Bridge and Tirley in Gloucestershire after the River Severn burst its banks

Floodwater covers fields and farmland around Haw Bridge and Tirley in Gloucestershire after the River Severn burst its banks

Derbyshire Constabulary's Drone Unit posted this photograph showing the extent of the flooding around Ambaston in Derbyshire on its Twitter feed

Derbyshire Constabulary’s Drone Unit posted this photograph showing the extent of the flooding around Ambaston in Derbyshire on its Twitter feed

Another picture taken today by the Drone Unit shows how fields have been swamped by floodwater around Ambaston

Another picture taken today by the Drone Unit shows how fields have been swamped by floodwater around Ambaston 

The Environment Agency are putting up a flood barrier (pictured) in the centre of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, to protect around 20 businesses and homes threatening by flooding from the River Avon

The Environment Agency are putting up a flood barrier (pictured) in the centre of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, to protect around 20 businesses and homes threatening by flooding from the River Avon

Rising floodwater in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire has left this towpath submerged. Seven flood warnings were in place today in the area surrounding the town

Rising floodwater in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire has left this towpath submerged. Seven flood warnings were in place today in the area surrounding the town

Rising floodwater at Haw Bridge near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire earlier today as the River Severn burst its banks

Rising floodwater at Haw Bridge near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire earlier today as the River Severn burst its banks

A Met Office yellow weather warning for rain across much of the north of England on Thursday passed without a major incident in the flooded communities in South Yorkshire.

The weather service had a yellow warning in place on Friday morning for ice in parts of Northern Ireland.

Residents in those areas were warned of a ‘risk of icy roads’ and were told to expect ‘some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths’.

Flooding in Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, caused disruption to rail networks on Friday morning, with TransPennine Express services between Sheffield and Scunthorpe being suspended.

Northern services between Doncaster and Goole were unable to run, with trains between Doncaster and Scunthorpe running at a reduced speed.

The A63, which runs from Leeds to Hull, was closed on Thursday night in the rainfall but reopened the following morning.

Deluged communities in Doncaster are still feeling the effects of this month’s deluge, with the Environment Agency (EA) explaining how machines have been pumping 2.5 tonnes of water per second out of the village of Fishlake.

Army soldiers from the Light Dragoons have been working since Wednesday to lay down sandbags and firm up flood defences in the area, and in neighbouring Stainforth.

Footage released today showed a Stagecoach bus in Gloucester with floodwater flowing in through the door while it was driving along a road

The water after it had accumulated

Footage released today showed a Stagecoach bus in Gloucester with floodwater flowing in through the door while it was driving along a road 

The Environment Agency (EA) has posted 116 flood warnings

Rain moving across the UK today

The Environment Agency (EA) has posted 116 flood warnings as of 11.30am – for which immediate action is required (see map, left). On the right is a map showing rain moving across the UK today 

The River Windrush near Burford in the Cotswolds was one of several that had burst its banks today, creating problems for local farmers

The River Windrush near Burford in the Cotswolds was one of several that had burst its banks today, creating problems for local farmers 

A runner jogs through the train over a flooded field in Oxford, where rain is set to give way to drier conditions on the weekend

A runner jogs through the train over a flooded field in Oxford, where rain is set to give way to drier conditions on the weekend 

The top of a bench juts just above the mass of floodwater that deluged a field near Oxford this morning

The top of a bench juts just above the mass of floodwater that deluged a field near Oxford this morning 

Flooding has hit much of England and Wales in recent days, although the Met Office predicts this weekend will provide a let up

Flooding has hit much of England and Wales in recent days, although the Met Office predicts this weekend will provide a let up 

The British Transport Police in Birmingham warned people not to travel unless 'absolutely necessary' due to the poor conditions

The British Transport Police in Birmingham warned people not to travel unless ‘absolutely necessary’ due to the poor conditions 

The villages are two of the worst-hit in the floods, with some residents being forced to leave their homes.

The leaders of councils in Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Bassetlaw and Kirklees have written to Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick warning of ‘considerable and lasting damage’ and urging more funding to help them cope with future flooding, the Guardian reported.

The paper said that around 1,800 homes and businesses had been affected by flooding in South Yorkshire.

On Friday morning, Martin Christmas from the EA warned that people had been trying to steal some of the pumps being used to help flooded homes in South Yorkshire.

He said: ‘A plea to anyone out there in the area who sees anyone suspicious, please get in touch with police.

‘We don’t want this to hamper our recovery effort in the Doncaster area.’  

Today, the Met Office forecast 'rain at times, but not as heavy as recent days'. Pictured is a flooded road in Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, last night

Today, the Met Office forecast ‘rain at times, but not as heavy as recent days’. Pictured is a flooded road in Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, last night

A car floating down a flooded road in Hull last night. It was pictured by West Midlands Fire Service, whose members are helping their counterparts in Yorkshire with rescue work

A car floating down a flooded road in Hull last night. It was pictured by West Midlands Fire Service, whose members are helping their counterparts in Yorkshire with rescue work 

The Environment Agency (EA) has posted 147 current flood warnings - for which immediate action is required. Pictured is a scene last night in Beverley, Hull

The Environment Agency (EA) has posted 147 current flood warnings – for which immediate action is required. Pictured is a scene last night in Beverley, Hull 

The battle to save Bentley! The Doncaster suburb of Bentley had to have the Army drafted in last night after more rainfall threatened

The battle to save Bentley! The Doncaster suburb of Bentley had to have the Army drafted in last night after more rainfall threatened

A police cordon had to be put in place late on Thursday after the Mercedes was abandoned last night in the middle of floods in Hall Green, Birmingham

A police cordon had to be put in place late on Thursday after the Mercedes was abandoned last night in the middle of floods in Hall Green, Birmingham 

Cars in Doncaster, Yorkshire, battle through standing water covering the road as they make their way home during last night's commute

Cars in Doncaster, Yorkshire, battle through standing water covering the road as they make their way home during last night’s commute 

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