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In pictures: Entire towns flooded after heavy rain over the weekend

Aerial photographs show how entire towns have been almost completely cut off by flood water as a result of heavy downpours which battered Britain over the weekend.

Parts of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire were left entirely submerged by 5ft (1.5m) of water after the River Severn burst its banks following the torrential rain.

Ancient Tewkesbury Abbey can be seen nearly marooned in dramatic drone images taken Monday in scenes strikingly reminiscent of the devastating floods of 2007.

Other parts of the historic town were also left under several feet of water following the deluge of bad weather, which saw a month's worth of rain falling in just two days.

Tewkesbury, located at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, is located in one of the worst affected regions and endured flood-damaged homes and properties in 2007.

There were similar scenes less than 20 miles away in Worcester where flooded fields stretched across the countryside as far as the eye can see.

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Photos show how one building site next to a dual carriageway was left completely under water and some residents' houses were cut off from main roads.

There are currently more than 200 warnings and alerts in place across Britain after widespread deluges left rivers across the country close to bursting point.

Dave Throup, Environment Agency manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: "Its very unusual for the River Severn to be at such high levels for its entire length, in England.

"We’ve got flood warnings in place from the Welsh border to Gloucester.”

He said that most of their flood defences have now deployed or are being deployed, “protecting hundreds of homes and businesses."

Mr Throup said on Twitter that the River Severn was at its highest level since February 2014.

The Environment Agency said: “River levels have risen and continue to rise at the Mythe Bridge river gauge as a result of heavy rainfall.”