UK weather – live: Met Office issues flooding warning with heavy rain to hit England tonight

Flooding has blocked all lines between Bristol Parkway and Swindon as much of the UK continues to face heavy rain on Friday.

National Rail said that there will be a reduced service between the two stations with trains cancelled, delayed or diverted until at least the end of the day.

There are 300 flood alerts and 84 flood warnings in place across England.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, urged older people to do all they can to keep warm and safe as the temperature drops.

She said: “High energy bills and food prices mean it is understandable that some may think they have to cut back on food and turn their heating off, but prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can have a serious impact on their health, especially if they are already managing existing illnesses.

“As we get older our bodies find it harder to adjust to big changes in temperature, particularly if we are also coping with ill health or mobility issues. The cold raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.”

The charity gave a number of tips including plenty of hot food and drinks, wrapping up warm outside and sleeping with the windows closed at night. It also advised people to keep an eye on older relatives, friends and neighbours.

There are 382 flood warnings and flood alerts currently in place across England, as the country deals with the aftermath of snow and continuing heavy rain.

There are 76 flood warnings in place and 306 less severe flood alerts. The alerts stretch from north to south but the majority are concentrating in the midlands and southern England.

Flood warnings mean that flooding is expected and locals are told to consider putting their flood plan in action if they have one.

The Environment agency has also warned residents in flood warning zones to avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.

Meanwhile in Scotland, there are two flood warnings and one flood alert in place in Dumfries and Galloway. There are also 20 flood alerts in place across Wales.

School children were pictured having to push a bus through the streets of Sheffield yesterday as the city was blanketed in snow.

Photos posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, show a crowd of what appear to be students gathering behind a bus stuck on an icy road in the Crosspool area of the city.

Bemused social media users reacted to the picture - which was taken on Thursday and has racked up over 34,000 views - with one asking: “What in the health and safety is going here??!!”

The Met Office has updated its weather warnings for snow today.

There is now one yellow weather warning for snow in place across northern Scotland until tomorrow at 3pm.

The warning brings the possibility of injuries from slips on ice, power cuts and travel delays in the region.

A number of ferry services have been cancelled as extreme weather wreaks havoc on travel plans.

CalMac ferries have been forced to cancel several services today. According to their website, four routes have been completely cancelled until the end of the day and a further ten have had one or more sailings disrupted.

The company advised its passengers to check the status of routes on its website ahead of travelling.

Wintry showers are expected to continue in the far north, with a band of rain and mainly hill snow across central areas moving northwards through the day.

Cloudier in the south with some showers, these locally heavy. Mild in the south, colder elsewhere.

In Scotland, a yellow warning for snow came into effect at 12pm on Thursday and will remain in place until 3pm on Friday. The warning covers most of the central belt and parts of the Scottish Borders but also extends north.

Here’s what to expect with the warning, according to the Met Office:

• There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
• There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off
• A small chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
• There is a chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel

Many roads across Britain are incredibly icy today, as snow continues to fall across Scotland. Here is the Met Office’s advice for travelling in heavy snow and ice:

• If you have to make a journey when snow is forecast, make sure you have warm clothes, food, water, boots, a torch and spade, and let someone know when you expect to arrive and your route.
• Put grit or cat litter on paths and driveways to lessen the risk of slipping on compacted snow.
• Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin.
• If braking is necessary, pump the brakes don’t slam them on.
• If you get stuck, stay with your car and tie something brightly coloured to your aerial