A village on the banks of the River Thames has become one of the worst-hit areas by flooding after Storm Henk with some residents forced to evacuate this week.
Wraysbury in Berkshire is still underwater five days after the last rain with vulnerable people asked to leave their homes, the school shut and many roads impassable.
Photographers documented scenes of devastation today as one man returned to his family home with his suitcase in a dinghy after a ten-day holiday to Antigua.
Others were seen wading through the floodwater carrying their pet dogs after the council decided to evacuate residents with additional needs on Monday night.
It comes as 200 flood warnings or alerts remained in place across England this afternoon following torrential rain last week that deluged more than 1,000 homes.
Most of the 93 flood warnings covered areas around the Thames Valley, Dorset, Wiltshire and into Somerset, with people in affected areas told to take precautions due to high river levels. There were also 116 lower-level flood alerts in place today.
Meanwhile forecasters warned the deep freeze could continue for the rest of this month with more snow on the way next week, after temperatures fell to -11C (12F).
George Bowles is assisted back to the family home in flooded Wraysbury with his luggage in a dinghy by his father Michael this morning after returning from a ten-day holiday in Antigua
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding properties on a street in Wraysbury this week
A resident carries her pet dog to her parent’s home amid flooding in Wraysbury today
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding a van in a residential street in Wraysbury today
Floodwater surrounding homes in Wraysbury, Berkshire – between Windsor and Heathrow
The abandoned caravan of clairvoyant Zara is seen in a waterlogged field in Wraysbury today
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
Floodwater surrounds swings and play equipment in a children’s park in Wraysbury this week
A person makes their way through floodwater in Wraysbury, Berkshire, this week
The Environment Agency’s flood warning covers the Thames at Wraysbury village including Welley Road, Ouseley Road, Station Road and Staines Road, as well as Magna Carta Lane
The Met Office has warned of an ‘increasing chance of wintry hazards’ from Sunday with further widespread frosts and the potential for ‘disruptive snow’ in the South.
In Wraysbury today, George Bowles was photographed being helped back to the family home with his luggage in a dinghy by his father Michael after returning from a trip to Antigua where it is 29C (84F).
Other residents were seen carrying their pet dogs over the floodwater, while the deluge had also surrounded swings and play equipment in a children’s park.
The village is where the late Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding grew up and was used in filming for the 1985 James Bond film A View To Kill. It is situated between Windsor and Heathrow Airport and also flooded in 2003 and twice in 2014.
Audrey Elliott, 94, who has lived in the village since the 1960s, is among the residents trapped in their homes by the latest flooding and told the Slough Observer: ‘I can’t get out at all now.
‘My bungalow is completely surrounded. It is all the way around. I think it is going to last a while.’
She added that friends and relatives have helped get her supplies, but her son who lives nearby has also faced flooding. Ms Elliott said: ‘He can’t get to me and I can’t get to him.’
A fire engine is driven through flood water in Wraysbury, Berkshire, this week
Floodwater surrounding homes on a residential street in Wraysbury, Berkshire
Wraysbury in Berkshire is still underwater this week, five days after the last rain
A person makes their way through floodwater in Wraysbury, Berkshire, today
George Bowles heads back to the family home in Wraysbury today after his holiday to Antigua
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding homes on a residential street in Wraysbury
A fire engine is driven through floodwater in Wraysbury, Berkshire, this week
A resident carries his pet dog through flooded streets in Wraysbury this morning
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding homeson a residential street in Wraysbury
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
But she added that she was well-prepared for the flooding and her nephew has coming over from Las Vegas today for her birthday.
Rising water levels along parts of the Thames riverside have caused major impacts on homes and businesses in Wraysbury and other areas, leading to the evacuation of some residents.
Hundreds of people across neighbouring Surrey have also been evacuated since Sunday due to flooding, with Egham and Chertsey particularly badly hit.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead said the evacuation decision for Wraysbury was taken on Monday night, with people taken to safe alternative accommodation.
A rest centre was set up at Windsor Leisure Centre for anyone needing to go somewhere warm and dry because of flooding.
And people who do not live in Wraysbury were told not travel through the village because many roads were impassable.
The council said traffic has been ‘causing issues for the flooding situation in the village’.
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding homes on a residential street in Wraysbury
A person makes their way through floodwater in Wraysbury, Berkshire, this week
Residents walk through waterlogged streets as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding homes on a residential street in Wraysbury
People walk through floodwater on a flooded street in Wraysbury this week
A van is surrounded by floodwater on a flooded street in Wraysbury this week
Residents walk through waterlogged streets as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding homes on a residential street in Wraysbury
Residents walk through waterlogged streets as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
Wraysbury Primary School was closed on the council’s recommendation, with a statement saying that this was ‘for the safety of pupils, parents and teachers getting to and from the school’. The building is set to reopen tomorrow.
Carolyn Richardson, the emergency planning officer for West Berkshire Council, told BBC News: ‘It’s still serious across the area.
‘Certainly the risk of new flooding is perhaps slowing down in the West Berkshire area and the rivers there are starting to stabilise and reduce.
‘But in the east, in the Windsor and Maidenhead area, the levels of the Thames and Colnbrook are still very high as it’s moving through – there are still significant issues with the rivers.
‘We’ve experienced flooding in areas that we haven’t in the past this year which is challenging.’
The Environment Agency’s flood warning for the area covers the Thames at Wraysbury village including Welley Road, Ouseley Road, Station Road and Staines Road, as well as Magna Carta Lane.
Its latest update stated: ‘River levels remain high on the River Thames in response to recent rainfall. Therefore, flooding of property and roads is possible today
A resident carries his pet dog through flooded streets in Wraysbury, Berkshire, today
A woman carrying a bag walks along one of the flooded streets in Wraysbury today
An aerial view shows floodwater surrounding homes on a residential street in Wraysbury
A person carrying bags walks along one of the flooded streets in Wraysbury today
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
A resident carries his pet dog through flooded streets in Wraysbury, Berkshire, today
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
People walk through floodwater on a flooded street in Wraysbury this week
‘We expect river levels to remain high over the next few days as water moves through the system. We are monitoring the situation.’
Officials urged people to move possessions and valuables off the ground or to safety, and activate any property flood protection products such as barriers.
A Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead statement said yesterday: ‘Following a multi-agency decision (Monday) night, the council and Emergency Services have been working to contact vulnerable residents from those parts of Wraysbury most affected by the floods.
‘Fire and Rescue Services have been working with Social Care staff to assess and assist residents with additional needs and to evacuate them to safe alternative accommodation. This operation is continuing.
‘A rest centre has been made available at Windsor Leisure Centre for any residents who may need somewhere warm and dry to go because of flooding in their homes.’
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
A woman carrying a bag walks along one of the flooded streets in Wraysbury today
A van is surrounded by floodwater on a flooded street in Wraysbury this week
A resident carries his pet dog through flooded streets in Wraysbury today
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
George Bowles returns to the family home in flooded Wraysbury after a holiday to Antigua
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
A resident carries her pet dog to her parent’s home amid flooding in Wraysbury today
Across England, hundreds of flood alerts or warnings remained in place today as the mercury fell to -9C (16F) at Dalwhinnie in the Highlands and -3C (27F) at London Gatwick Airport.
It comes after temperatures fell to -11.1C (12.02F) at Aviemore yesterday. The coldest night of the winter so far was December 3 when Altnaharra dropped to -12.5C (9.5F).
An amber cold health alert for the North West of England, the Midlands, the South West and South East remained in place until noon on Friday but could be extended.
The UK Health Security Agency alert warns health services of increased demand – and advises people to keep an eye on elderly and vulnerable friends and neighbours.
The charity Age UK said the ‘Big Freeze is happening at the worst possible time for older people’ given the flooding, cost of living crisis and pressure on the NHS .
Submerged garden ornaments are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
A woman carrying a bag walks along one of the flooded streets in Wraysbury today
Submerged garden ornaments are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
Homes surrounded by floodwater are seen as the impact of flooding continues in Wraysbury
A resident carries her pet dog to her parent’s home amid flooding in Wraysbury today
Today, the Met Office said further cold weather was likely through this week, with an ‘increasing chance of wintry hazards towards the start of next week’.
The UK is under the influence of high pressure, which is bringing colder than average weather for the time of year, and a significant reduction in rainfall following the very wet start to January.
The cold and largely dry conditions are set to persist through much of this week, with areas in southern England particularly cold compared to average.
Then from Sunday a northerly airflow will develop which could increase the chances of ‘wintry hazards’.