Summer downpours hit Britain

Homes were flooded, roads submerged and rivers rose to dangerously high levels yesterday as torrential rain and strong winds lashed many areas.

Wimbledon in southwest London was disrupted on the opening day yesterday before a ball was hit, while poor weather forced a helicopter bringing Dame Shirley Bassey back from Glastonbury to make an emergency landing in a school's grounds in Camberley, Surrey. Severe weather warnings have been issued by the Met Office for areas across the north and the Midlands as well as Wales.

Homes in Devon, Humberside, South Yorkshire and Gloustershire in particular were struggling to cope after the rain while motorists had to abandon cars when many roads in Yorkshire became impassable.

The Environment Agency issued five severe flood warnings for the River Humber, the rivers Bain and Lud and the Louth Canal in Lincolnshire and the River Erewash in Derbyshire.