Ananova:

Hundreds of flooded homes and businesses across the south of England have begun mopping up after drains and rivers overflowed during yesterday's deluge of continuous rain.

The Environment Agency quickly stepped up its new first-stage Flood Watch alert to Flood Warnings on several rivers in Hampshire and West and East Sussex. The downpour was so strong that half of the monthly average rainfall for October on the Isle of Wight fell in one day.

As the floods begin to recede, weather forecasters are predicting gales and the chance of another inch of rainfall tonight along the south coast.

On the Isle of Wight, property in the Ryde area was badly hit as the Monkton Mead swelled to dangerously high levels. Other Flood Warnings were issued on the River Medina from Chale to Newport.

By 6pm last night, 38mm of rain had fallen on the island, with a further 3mm falling by midnight. The total average rainfall for October is 75mm in the area.

In West Sussex, the fire brigade received more than 130 calls to flooded homes, shops and main roads throughout the evening.

In Bognor Regis, homes were evacuated as drains failed to cope with standing water. The Environment Agency sent its Emergency Planning unit to the scene.

Midhurst was the first town in the county to report problems. The Ship Inn at nearby South Harting needed emergency assistance as water poured into the premises. Flood Warnings are in place on the Western Rother from Liss to Midhurst.