Fire crews have been out and about in Somerset this morning helping deal with flooded-threatened homes.

Ilminster is one of the locations where they have been braving the flood waters to see if residents need help

Highways South West says the A30 in Somerset is now closed in both directions between the A35 and the A375 near Honiton due to flooding.

"Crews are on scene, however due to the sheer amount of water are unable to clear the flooding.

"Traffic being diverted locally however please note local roads may be flooded."

Tess De La Mare
BBC News, Live page reporter

Image source, Axminster Fire Station

Firefighters in Devon and Somerset have so far rescued 25 people from vehicles stranded in floodwater on Tuesday, the service said.

In a social media post, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said: “Flood water can be deeper and moving faster than it appears. Driving through it can quickly lead to vehicles becoming stranded and lives being put at risk.

“Please do not drive through flood water – turn around and find an alternative route.”

A spokesman for the service confirmed there were no casualties.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency has warned more properties in Somerset are likely to flood in the coming days.

Ian Withers, area director for Wessex, told the BBC: “The reality is that the rainfall we’ve had in catchments that are already saturated mean that flooding is a very real prospect for some communities and some properties.

“We think we’ve had 50mm of rain overnight over most of Somerset - that was on top of a wet week last week.”

Mr Withers added the south and the west of the county have been the worst-hit areas.

The closure of two lanes of the M5, between Taunton and Wellington, caused severe delays earlier, but National Highways says the road is now fully open.

Drivers have been warned to expect delays of half an hour due to earlier backlogs.

The heavy rain has made roads around the village of Puckington near Ilminster impassable.

It is a scene that is being repeated across the county.

Image source, Phillip Coyne

Many roads, small and large, are currently closed across Somerset.

This was the scene on the A358 at Henlade near Taunton.

It is one of the main routes that connects to the M5 motorway at junction 25.

There are currently 17 flood warnings in place for Somerset.

Many of the most severe flood warnings, external cover the land between Taunton and Yeovil.

There are also warnings in place around Chew Magna south of Bristol.

The red flood warning for Chew Magna predicted flooding would arrive when waterways such as the Winford Brook reach their peak from 08:30 GMT.

Gloucestershire is not as badly affected, but there are some flood alerts in the county, particularly around Gloucester.

There are also several flood alerts covering Wiltshire.

Image source, Paula Baran

Rafal Baran, of Severn Drive in Blackbrook, Taunton, said the road had completely flooded by 03:30 GMT on Tuesday, and by 05:00 water was getting into his house.

“The water is at least one metre high outside the house,” he said.

Baran, who has lived in the house for four years, says the street floods regularly, but this is the first time it’s got into his home.

“Inside my house it’s above our ankles, and the water isn’t going down, its rising,” he said.

Drivers are being asked to avoid the A419 towards Cirencester following a multiple vehicle collision.

Footage from a Highways England camera showed a build up of surface water on the road.

Wiltshire Police said it would provide updates when possible.

Image source, Highways England

Great Western Railway said the line between Castle Cary and Taunton is currently shut due to flooding.

High-speed services to Taunton are being diverted via Bristol because of the situation at Castle Cary.

In Wiltshire, rail lines are closed between Salisbury and both Southampton Central and Romsey in Hampshire.

Image source, Paul Silvers

Taunton and the surrounding area has been badly impacted by the overnight flooding.

This was the situation in Ruishton, near Taunton, this morning.

A total of 18 schools in Somerset are closed due to the heavy overnight rain.

They include schools such as Hambridge, Cheddon Fitzpaine Church School, Danesfield Church of England School in Taunton, and Curry Rivel Church of England School.

Other schools in the county are delaying opening and some have closed particular year groups.

Welcome to our live page, where we will be updating you on the latest flooding issues across the West.

Heavy overnight rain is causing widespread travel disruption, with Somerset badly hit.

Flooding means rail services have been suspended in Somerset and Wiltshire and multiple roads are also closed.