LONDON: More than 80 flood warnings and nearly 300 alerts are in place across Britain as thawing snow and heavy rain push river levels higher.

Forecasters are warning of more rain this week, with south-west England particularly at risk from flooding.

In North Yorkshire, a canoeist, believed to be in his 30s, has died after he was pulled from the swollen Arkle Beck, near Reeth.

A rescue operation was launched after he became trapped in debris.

The Met Office is warning people to be prepared for potential travel disruption.

The Environment Agency (EA) has issued 79 warnings across England and Wales, meaning flooding is expected, urging people in the Midlands, South West, Wales and Anglian region to take immediate action against predicted flooding.

Another 289 alerts, meaning flooding is possible, are also in place — increasing every few minutes — after the agency warned of an increased risk of surface water and river flooding.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has issued three flood warnings and 13 alerts.

The Automobile Association (AA) said crews had been called to at least 17 motorists stuck in water since midnight.

In Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales a motorist had to be rescued from floodwater by fire crews who pushed him to safety.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service pumped water from the road — more than a metre deep in some places — into a nearby culvert on the advice of the Environment Agency, and warned motorists from driving through flood water after being called out to rescue several people.

Mountain rescue workers were drafted in to help with rescue operations and check on the condition of drivers stranded by the snow.

The gable end of a house which collapsed in Barnsley, apparently under the weight of fresh snow. A house collapses in Barnsley, apparently under the weight of fresh snow

A diabetic man was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital after falling ill, while an ambulance taking a female patient to the Royal Preston Hospital had to be dug out of the snow.

There were reports of flooding in south Wales too overnight after downpours replaced almost two weeks of snow.

Norfolk police also reported flooding caused by melting snow and ice, which has closed a number of roads in the area.

Forecasters predicted a very wet spell through the latter part of Monday and into Tuesday too.

Trains running between Chester and Crewe were temporarily suspended because of flooding, with Virgin and Arriva services affected.