Typical British summer, eh?Trapped man dies amid flood chaos
A man who became trapped in a flooded drain has died, as heavy rains continue to fall across England and Wales.
Rescuers had battled to free the man in Hull, where officials declared a state of emergency amid torrential downpours.
Severe weather and flood warnings are in force in many areas. The worst rain is expected in Yorks and Lincs, where more than 120 schools have been closed.
Forecasters say there could be up to a month's rainfall in the next 24 hours and more flooding than in recent days.
Rail disruption
South-east England escaped the worst downpours, with rain only delaying the start of play at Wimbledon.
Music fans leaving the site of the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset - parts of which were left awash after heavy rain throughout the three-day event - have been experiencing more wet conditions and delays as they head home.
On the railways, Central Trains, Chiltern Railways, First Capital Connect, First Great Western, Transpennine Express and Virgin Trains have all warned of disruption to services due to the weather.
Forecasters said that June's average rainfall of about 50mm could fall in many places over the next 24 hours.
An area stretching from north-east Wales through the north Midlands, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire will see more than 25mm of rain, with up to 75mm in a few parts.
Phil Rothwell, head of flood defence at the Environment Agency, said the "unprecedented weather systems" were causing "very difficult circumstances".
The man who has died in Hull had become trapped in neck-deep water when he went to help his grandfather clear a flooded drain in the Hessle area.
Glenn Ramsden, from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said the man slipped and got his foot caught in a metal grate.
Rescuers, including police divers, spent several hours battling to free the man, thought to be his 20s, but were unable to save him.
Mr Ramsden said: "It's been an absolutely desperate operation to save this man, but at the end of the day we couldn't do it."
In Lincolnshire, a nine-year-old boy was rescued by passers-by from the swollen River Lud in Louth.
Howard Barraclough told BBC Lincolnshire that one of his fellow rescuers had almost been pulled under the water.
And in Derbyshire, a rescue helicopter and fire crews were travelling to Staveley after reports of a man stuck up a tree.
Homes evacuated
Meanwhile, dozens of people were evacuated from their homes in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and the Halton area of Leeds.
About 100 people in Lowdham, Nottinghamshire, 60 homes and businesses in Louth, Lincolnshire and 70 houses in the Halton area of Leeds were affected, with occupants moving to emergency centres.
In Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, the fire service has been inundated with reports of flood water entering cellars in shops and homes, and in nearby Gloucester fire crews rescued 50 dogs and 20 cats stranded in kennels.
Further south in Bideford, north Devon, heavy rain caused streams to overflow their banks, flooding properties.
Schools are being advised to close early in Shropshire and many across the country could remain closed on Tuesday.
The Environment Agency has issued 11 severe flood warnings and 80 standard flood warnings.
Severe warnings are in place in north-east England, the Midlands and over much of the east of the country.
BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor said: "For many areas the rain will remain heavy and persistent, coupled with strong winds - a truly miserable day."
The weather will be mostly cloudy elsewhere, with scattered showers. There could be some sunny spells in western Scotland.
The South East will see the highest temperatures of about 18C.
The rain will ease and move towards the South East later on, clearing all areas soon after dawn.
It's tragic about the bloke getting killed - the emergecny services were trying bloody hard as well.
Thankfully they seem to be doing a good job in managing the various situations around the country. It's not been too bad down here - just constant heavy rain, which is draining rapidly.
