Two thousand homes in Didsbury in Greater Manchester have been evacuated overnight as heavy rain from Storm Christoph falling on already saturated ground has resulted in significant surface and river water flooding.

Communities in Ruthin and Bangor-on-Dee, North Wales, and Maghull, Merseyside, have also been affected by the severe weather – the entire village of Bangor on Dee has been told to wait for evacuation by 4x4s. In Wrexham, two to three hundred residents might have to be evacuated if the banks of the River Dee burst.

As of 8am this morning across England and Wales there are currently 4 severe flood warnings in place, meaning there is a threat to life and significant disruption, 198 flood warnings where flooding is expected with immediate action required and 221 flood alerts warning people to be prepared where flooding is possible.

In Yorkshire, where a major incident has been declared, York city centre was flooded after the River Ouse burst its banks on Monday. The River Foss flood barrier in the city is in operation, while flood gates have also been closed.

The River Ouse is expected to peak at between 4.4m and 4.8m above normal levels today.

People living in the North West are being urged to prepare for the risk of significant flooding for the rest of the week - trains have cancelled across the region and people warned to avoid rail travel.

Sally Sudworth, Environment Manager at the Environment Agency warned yesterday that more heavy rain falling on already saturated ground would bring more significant flooding in parts of Greater Manchester today and into the weekend.