Britain braced for more flooding as the country prepares to be lashed with up to four centimetres of rain in just 14 hours

• Four centimetres of rain expected to fall before 7pm today
• Third of January's expected rainfall could fall in some areas
• Two yellow warnings for south-west England and South Wales, and the east coast of Northern Ireland issued
• Environment Agency has more than 40 flood warnings in place
  

By LIZZIE EDMONDS

Published: 07:04 EST, 18 January 2014 | Updated: 13:23 EST, 18 January 2014

Parts of the UK are at risk from further flooding today as four centimetres of rain is expected to fall in 14 hours.

The Met Office this morning issued two yellow warnings - one for south-west England and South Wales and the other for the east coast of Northern Ireland.

Up to a third of January's expected rainfall, about 3-4cm, could fall on already sodden ground. The average UK rainfall for January is 12cm.

Splash: Motorists drive through floodwater in Chichester, West Sussex. Up to 4cm of rainfall is expected today in 14 hours today

An unusual sign is displayed in Lavant, West Sussex, warning drivers not to splash pedestrians as heavy rain and floods return to parts of the country

Two motorists fall victim to flood water in Maidenbower, Crawley, West Sussex

Two female drivers are forced to push their car along a flooded road in Essex

The Environment Agency has more than 40 flood warnings in place, most of which are in the South East and South West.

Given continued saturated ground conditions, forecasters say the public should be aware of the likelihood of localised flooding.

The Met Office's warning was valid from 5am and runs until 7pm.

A spokesman said this morning: 'We are expecting persistent and heavy rain today.

'Rain, heavy and persistent in places, will continue to affect much of south-west England and South Wales this morning, slowly clearing again from the west this afternoon.

An Environment Agency map shows areas currently with flood warnings

More flooding in Lingfield. The Met Office said areas in the south west are the most at risk of localised flooding

Submerged: A mini drives into a ditch after making its way through heavy rainwater near Gatwick Airport

Residents in Latchingdon, Essex, put sandbags around their property - which is already surrounded by water

These brave drivers of a Land Rover push through 4ft of water in Essex

Krista Mitchell from the Met Office added: 'Given that the ground there is already quite saturated there's a risk of localised flooding.'

She said  2cm is expected but some parts could see 3cm-40cm.

The Environment Agency has 41 flood warnings - 23 in the South East, 11 in the South West, five in Anglia and two in the Midlands. There are 150 flood alerts in place.

Eight people have died and more than 1,700 homes and businesses have been flooded in England since the beginning of the Christmas period.

Despite the storms, temperatures have been relatively mild for January, with the thermometer rising as high as 10C.

A cottage in Latchingdon, Essex is protected from rising floodwater by piles of sandbags

Chaos: Flooded roads and fields in Lingfield, Surrey. More than 1,700 homes have been flooded since the beginning of the Christmas period

The flooded tracks at Lingfield Racecourse. Forecasters say rain today will be 'heavy and persistent'