Rain, Lightning and Tornado hits UK

The risk of flooding from groundwater will also continue in Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, West Berkshire and Surrey into next week.

The Met Office said that rain across Britain would be accompanied by strong winds, and rainfall accumulations of up to 0.8in were expected.

Meanwhile, witnesses said a ‘mini-tornado’ swept through Surrey and Sussex, bringing down trees, damaging homes and even lifting cats in the air.

It reportedly hit Chobham, Surrey, at 5pm yesterday. Local resident Shirley Blay said: ‘It was a mini-tornado, I can't describe it as anything less.'

She told BBC News: ‘We've got four feral cats in the yard and they were being lifted off the ground - they just went round like a big paper bag.’ 

UK Power Networks said some 13,000 customers were left without power in Kent, Sussex and Surrey on Saturday night, but this has since fallen to 1,100

Many Somerset communities are still coming to terms with the flooding that hit the county at the beginning of January and now face more woe.

Somerset County Council deputy chief executive Pat Flaherty said: ‘Our priority has to be to keep people safe.

‘We are doing everything we can to do this and we believe that declaring a major incident shows just how urgent the situation is for many of our residents and communities.

‘The reason we are taking this action is the long-term nature of the issues we are facing and to enable a consistent approach to the way that we deal with them.’

The council will continue its help for people affected by flooding, which includes a boat service for the cut-off community of Muchelney and Thorney.

It is also providing a pontoon bridge at Langport, supporting farmers providing a tractor service and evacuating residents when necessary.

Avon and Somerset Police launched their underwater search team today in a bid to use their boat to reach flood-hit homes in Mulcheney on Somerset Levels.

The team also gave fire prevention and health and safety advice to residents who have been affected by the floods.

Much of the area remains under water and more rain is expected to fall overnight and residents are being told to prepare for further flooding.

A Met Office forecaster said: ‘More heavy rain will spread east across the area on Sunday. 

'Given the current disruption on the Somerset Levels, the public should be prepared for further flooding.’