There is still a high risk of flooding across areas of Northern England and north Wales today, the Environment Agency has warned.

The Agency said on Monday night that areas with slower-responding rivers may be subject to fresh flooding even after the worst of the downpours seen across the UK over the past week, as some watercourses may yet burst their banks as runoff leaves fields and enters rivers. Environment Agency experts said over the weekend that problems are being caused in the North and West of England, as well as parts of Wales, by heavy rainfall on sodden ground.

According to the Agency, "flood risk across the country remains elevated and large, slow responding rivers will to continue to rise over the next few days, particularly the Thames, Trent and the Severn." Groundwater is also proving a cause for concern in some parts of the country. Groundwater flooding happens when levels of water in the ground rise above surface levels and, after a summer of record rainfall, aquifers are already high.

The misery caused by flooding in the worst hit areas risks being compounded by freezing weather, which is forecast to set in later this week. Over 400 flood warnings and alerts remain in place across the UK.

Paul Mustow, Head of Flood Incident Management said on Monday evening "Our thoughts remain with those that have been affected by flooding over the last few days. Further flooding is expected in the next 24 hours and communities across northeast England, North Wales and Northamptonshire are urged to remain especially vigilant. People, should sign up for free flood warnings, keep up to date with the latest situation on our website, and stay away from dangerous flood water."

In Wales, 500 people were evacuated from their homes when the river Elwy burst its banks on Monday. In total, an estimated 1,400 homes have been flooded and floodwaters have caused widespread disruption in North Yorkshire and the South West. Adverse weather is thought to have caused serious delays to sowing in the UK; although the entire arable areas is usually sowed by this point, estimates put the UK arable area currently sown at 70 percent.

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