Buildings in England set on fire by lightning as more water damage forecast across the UK

Dozens of families had to leave their homes over the weekend as flash floods hit communities in south Wales.

One hundred houses in Rhondda Cynon Taf were evacuated after torrential rain inundated the area, and emergency services were called to Pontypridd, Cardiff and Caerphilly.

Environment Agency flood warnings were also issued for areas in Nottingham, Oxfordshire and the Midlands. More water damage is expected this week as wet weather is due to continue to batter England and Wales.

Also over the weekend, bolts of lightning set fire to buildings in London and Corfe Castle, Dorset.

Car overwhelmed by floodwater
Houses in Rhondda Cynon Taf were evacuated after torrential rain inundated the area

The floods come six months after Sir Michael Pitt lambasted the government and local authorities for failing to take flooding more seriously in a highly critical report into the devastating deluge of 2007, which killed 13 people and damaged almost 45,000 homes.

Since then, ministers have given £15m to councils in high-risk areas to tackle the issue and pledged £7.7m for a flood forecasting centre.

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