SPECTRE OF STORMS CIARA AND DENNIS FROM EARLIER IN THE YEAR BACK TO HAUNT COMMUNITIES?

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY WARNS THOSE ON TRAVELS TO 'PLAN ROUTES AHEAD' IN NEXT 24 HOURS

TORRENTIAL rain and thunderstorms have brought the fresh threat of serious flooding to villages on the outskirts of Atherstone.

The spectre of Storms Ciara and Dennis from earlier in the year have come to haunt the communities of Ratcliffe Culey, Sheepy Magna, Sheepy Parva, Sibson and Witherley.

River levels of the Anker and Sence are forecast to rise at the Temple Mill gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall.

The Environment Agency warns flooding of roads and farmland is possible today with more heavy downpours forecast in the next 24 hours.

Flash floods hit the town yesterday in Long Street by Atherstone Garage and drivers had to negotiate a damaged section of the Coleshill Road near the golf course – where tarmac had broken up and lifted from the torrential rain.

Surface water is affecting low-lying land and roads adjacent to the River Anker between Nuneaton and Tamworth and the River Sence between Temple Mill and Ratcliffe Culey.

The agency expects river levels to remain high until tomorrow morning>

In a statement it said: "We are closely monitoring the situation. Our incident response staff are actively checking river levels and the weather forecast and clearing weed screens."

It urged drivers to plan ahead for their routes to avoid low lying roads near rivers, which may be flooded.

In February the two storms devastated the area on successive weekends – leaving the villages of Pinwall, Grendon and Witherley cut off at times.