Parts of the UK have been warned to expect more than two weeks of rainfall in 24 hours.

South-west England and South Wales have been battered since the early hours and the deluge is due to head north east throughout the day.

The downpours have led to flood warnings on rivers across Gloucestershire and South Wales, with nine flood watches now in place across Yorkshire.

Firefighters this morning rescued a woman and her baby who were trapped in a house with water five feet deep outside, near Nantyfedw, Cynon Valley, South Wales. The crew, from nearby Pontypridd, pumped the water away and asked the council for sandbags for properties in the area.

It came shortly after two women were released from their cars when they became stuck under bridges - one in Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend, and the other in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil.

South Wales police are now advising all motorists to avoid making unecessary journeys in the Rhymney and Sirhowy Valley areas because of the risk of landslides.

Firefighters across Devon and Cornwall rescued a number of motorists trapped by rising floodwater, including a lorry stuck near Cadeleigh, Tiverton, mid Devon, when a river burst its banks.

In Gloucestershire, grandmother Carol Pritchard said she was considering abandoning her home after it flooded for the third time in a year.

Water gushing from a culvert affected her home and 13 other properties in Lakeside Avenue, Lydney, in the Forest of Dean.

It came just three days after Mrs Pritchard had a new oak panelled floor fitted following the last flood.

"This is horrendous, far worse than last time," she said. "It came through the house like a river and caused complete devastation.

"It's taken seven months to get everything sorted out after last time and they only finished on Monday. Now everything has been ruined and we've got to start all over again.

"I don't want to live here anymore, but there's nowhere else to go."

Rainfall totals in excess of 50mm are possible in places across Northern England as the storms sweep northwards. Eastern areas are forecast to see the worst of the downpours, set to continue into Saturday and Sunday.

Temperatures are expected to drop as low as nine celsius across the region today, picking up for Saturday.

Following the morning's rain, nine flood watch alerts have now been issued by the Environment Agency for rivers in South and West Yorkshire, including the Calder, the Aire, the Don and the Rother.

The wet weather has also led Bradford City Council to call off all arranged sports matches due to be held on council land over the weekend.

A spokesman said it was a first time the authority has had to make such a move as early in the year as September.

Wakefield Council has had teams out around the district since early morning to clear culverts and grills, as well as inspecting watercourses for obstructions and potential obstructions.

Known gully problem hotspots have been checked and cleared and 7,000 sandbags have already been prepared in case they are needed.

A an emergency planning service is also in place in case of the need for an emergency centre and the Contact Centre will be on standby for any calls from the public on 0845 8 506 506.