VIDEO AND GALLERY: Dorcan Way shut as downpours hit town

Yesterday the Met Office issued a yellow 'be alert' warning for rain valid until 9am today but has now extended that until 10pm, saying further heavy showers will occur across some central and southern parts of England.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: "Dorcan Way is closed due to the heavy rainfall. We have sent our gully clearing machine to the area to deal with any potential issues relating to possible blockages.

"We are not aware of other roads that need to be closed but we are closely monitoring the situation.

"We have staff out at the  moment checking on river levels which appear to be okay and other potential problem areas on the road networks. Where appropriate we will arrange for further signage or road closures.

"We have received no reports of houses or businesses being flooded at this stage, but we have put staff on standby should the situation worsen."

Delays because of standing water are also being reported on the A3102 Great Western Way between Blagrove and Mannington roundabouts.

A flood warning has also been issued for the River Ray due to the heavy rainfall.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "Property flooding is not currently expected. However, levels on the Pang and Sulham Brook have risen steadily in response to recent rainfall.

"These watercourses will remain responsive to further rainfall and flooding of low lying land and roads is possible this afternoon.

"The weather prospects are for further isolated but heavy showers across large parts of Southern England through this afternoon and evening."

At Coate water was seen coming from manhole covers and pouring over the road.

One resident said: “It is a right old mess. You can’t walk through it.”

John Wilson said: “This is what happens when it rains heavily after building Badbury Park houses next to Coate.

“The last time the council just drained it and took the water away in trucks and spent all day and night doing it, but couldn't find a cause so here it is again.”

He asked: “Are we at Coate going to suffer this every time it rains heavily? There is only one entrance or exit to Coate and the Spotted Cow pub and this water blocks it. You'll definitely need wellies.”

Flooding at Coate today. Picture by John Wilson

Manager of the pub Raluca Avram said part of the car park was flooded, “But the pub is still accessible and I have still got customers.”

Further afield, in Minety a 60-metre stretch of the road at Moor Corner turned into a river due to flash flooding.

Resident Nigel Price said: “We can't get out of the house. Part of the front garden is under water.”

Flooding at Minety today. Picture by Nigel Price

The Met Office weather warning said: "Be aware of the potential for localised surface water flooding and difficult driving conditions."

And the chief forecaster said: "The areas of rain, some heavy, across southern parts of England and Wales will turn more showery by afternoon, whilst at the same time heavy and possibly thundery showers develop.

"There is the potential for these to become slow moving in some places, most likely across the southwest Midlands, southeast Wales and and the West Country, leading to 15-25mm of rain within an hour very locally, and perhaps 40mm or more in a few hours.

"However, there is still some uncertainty over exactly where these will develop and most places will not experience these slow moving intense showers. Where they do occur, hail and lightning are also possible."

Meanwhile the torrential rain has resulted in the cancellation of one of the main celebrations marking the Queen's 90th birthday.

Downpours blighted much of south-eastern England overnight, with Kew Gardens experiencing the wettest six-hour period, clocking nearly 1in (23.6mm) of rain.

Charlwood closely followed, with 0.9in (23.4mm) falling on the Surrey village and more than 0.7in (18mm) of rain recorded in just one hour at St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight.

Steven Keates, from the Met Office, said across southern, central and western Britain it has been a "pretty soaking night" with some "intense downpours".

"It is atrocious out there - driving will not be that pleasant on some roads across the South this morning," he said.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show, hosting one of the main celebrations for the Queen's Birthday across the four-day event, was also impacted by the wet weather. A water-logged public and lorry car park forced the cancellation of the first day of equine eventing.

Parts of south-east London were also brought to a standstill during the morning rush-hour.

A Transport for London (TfL) spokeswoman confirmed that the Docklands Light Railway service was suspended between Deptford Bridge and Lewisham due to flooding caused by heavy rain.

Mr Keates added: "This wet weather will gradually work its way south and west over the course of this morning and into the afternoon.

"The likes of Devon, Cornwall and South Wales will see some heavy rain over the next few hours, with an improving picture across London and the South East.

"But there is scope for some heavy thundery showers around this afternoon. There will be some sunshine around and temperatures will be in the high teens giving it a humid feel."

Mr Keates said the weather in the South is in "stark contrast" to warm and sunny weather over western Scotland and northern England.

Looking ahead to the rest of the week he said there is an "improving picture" across the country and the potential for some showers in the south-west of England.

Temperatures could reach the low 20s on Thursday with these dropping by the weekend to the seasonal average of the mid to low teens.

Swindon Fire Station's Green Watch pump out a home. Click to find out more