MORE heavy rainfall is on the way and the Environment Agency is warning householders and businesses to prepare their flood defences.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning that heavy rainfall could affect parts of South West England and Wales through Wednesday evening and into Thursday.

It covers Devizes, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Calne and Corsham, and lasts from 9pm on Wednesday until 5pm on Thursday.

It said: “Flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely and bus and train services will probably be affected with journey times taking longer.

“Spray and flooding on roads will probably make journey times longer and some interruption to power supplies and other services is possible.”

Weatherwise, this afternoon will cloud over with some blustery spells of showery rain blowing in from the west. Turning increasingly windy with some strong gusts.

This evening will become drier with just a few showers lingering around. Turning wet again overnight as a band of blustery rain feeds in from the west. It will remain very windy and gusty.

Thursday will remain mostly cloudy with a few spells of rain. However, rain will be patchier compared to the previous night and it will turn largely dry and clear by the end of the day. It will be less windy.

Friday is expected to be a largely dry day with long spells of winter sunshine, however, the odd brief shower cannot be completely ruled out and it will be breezy.

Saturday will become cloudy and wet early on, but rain will largely clear by the afternoon to reveal sunny spells. A windy day. Sunday looks to be a windy and colder day with variable cloud and some scattered showers.

Flood alerts remain active for the Mid Bristol and Upper Bristol areas, where residents are being warned to be prepared for possible flooding.

River levels remain high on the River Avon through Bradford on Avon, Semington and Bathford. Consequently, the risk of flooding remains.

Expect flooding to affect low lying land and roads between Melksham and Bathford. The flood gates at Holt and Staverton may be closed.

River levels also remain high on the River Avon through Great Somerford, Sherston Avon and Tetbury Avon and above the Flood Alert criteria. Consequently, the risk of flooding remains.

High river levels and bankfull conditions are expected throughout the catchment. Flooding is expected to affect the road at Reybridge.

Drivers are being advised to plan their routes to avoid low-lying roads near rivers and to not drive through flood water. The Agency is monitoring the situation and checking for blockages in rivers.