Communities across England and Wales are beginning a “massive clean-up” after torrential rain and widespread flooding caused by Storm Bert this weekend.

Residents in affected areas said they did not think the chaos would be resolved by Christmas, with the Environment Secretary saying Britain’s flood defenses were in the “worst state on record”.

Hundreds of homes were left underwater, roads were turned into rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded in parts of the UK.

A man aged around 80 died after his car entered water in a ford in Colne, Lancashire on Saturday, while a body was found during the search for Brian Perry, 75, carried disappeared while walking his dog near Afon Conwy. river in North Wales on the same day.

More than 130 flood warnings and 160 alerts remained in force across the UK as of Monday afternoon.

A severe flood warning, meaning there is danger to life, has been issued for Billing Aquadrome and surrounding parks, near the River Nene in Northampton.

Cwmtillery, a former mining community in south Wales, apparently suffered a landslide during Sunday evening’s storm, and many residents were asked to leave their homes overnight after mud and rain The water came up right under their windows.

Luc Robertson, who lives in Woodland Terrace in the village, told the PA news agency: “We didn’t expect it, we didn’t prepare for it or anything, but we’re obviously just happy that no one gets hurt.

“There was a little (slip) a few years ago, but it was nothing of this magnitude, to be honest.

“All the debris, that’s what caused the carnage, it’s going to be a massive cleanup.”

Rob Scholes, 75, who returned to check the damage to his house on Monday after being moved, said: “My neighbor rang and said ‘don’t open your front door’, so I don’t didn’t do it and we just watched it. go up.

“I just came back this morning to see the damage.

“To be honest, I really don’t think we’re going to have this situation cleared up by Christmas.”

Welsh Water has issued a ‘boil water’ notice to customers in 10 areas of South Wales, informing them that their tap water may be contaminated due to flooding and must be boiled until further notice. order.

A major incident was declared in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area on Sunday after between 200 and 300 properties were affected by flooding.

In a statement on Monday, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said it had issued flood warnings ahead of the downpours, but there was “no silver bullet” for managing flood risk, after criticism of warnings from a local council leader.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the government was allocating more money this winter to upgrade flood defenses more quickly.

He said: “This government has inherited flood defense systems from the previous government which are in the worst state on record.

“Now we have allocated £2.4 billion in the Budget to improve our flood defences, better maintain the ones we already have and build new flood defenses to keep people safe.

“It will make a difference and it’s what we need to do to better address the impact of climate change that we’re seeing with these floods.”

Mr Reed added that the Government “would be prepared to offer whatever additional support we can” to those most affected in Wales.

Storm Bert is “just slowly moving away” from the UK on Monday, bringing a mix of sunny spells and showers for many, according to the Met Office.

Frequent showers are expected in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England, Wales and the West Country, with sunnier and drier weather in parts of the Midlands and southeast of England.

A new yellow rain warning for an area of ​​the north-west Scottish Highlands has been issued by the forecaster until 11.59pm on Monday, with 50-70mm of rainfall and melting snow likely to cause flooding.

Rail passengers have been urged not to travel between Broxbourne, Hertfordshire and Stansted Airport after several fallen trees damaged overhead cables. No trains should run before 5 p.m.

London Northwestern Railway said no train services would operate through Northampton due to the River Nene overflowing.

Great Western Railways has warned passengers not to travel as it has suspended services on all main routes due to flooding and fallen trees.

Transport for Wales said all services between Pontypridd and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil are currently canceled and disruption is expected throughout Monday.

Services between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness in Lancashire will not run until Friday due to heavy flooding, with replacement rail extending journey times by up to an hour.

Fire crews rescued 57 children and one adult from a school bus after it became stranded in floodwaters on Eckington Bridge in Worcestershire on Monday morning, the Fire and Rescue Service said. relief from Hereford and Worcester.

West Mercia Police said their officers were investigating an incident circulating on social media showing a tractor driving through floodwaters in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, on Sunday, allegedly causing damage to premises.

Around 350,000 homes in England lost power during the storm, although most have since been reconnected.

Some areas received more than 130 mm of rain in 24 hours on Sunday.