RESIDENTS awoke to flooding this week after heavy rainfall and high winds on Tuesday evening and more of the same is set for the coming days.

A flood alert was issued by the Environment Agency for the river Erme and coastal streams from South Brent and Ivybridge areas and from Bigbury to Dartmouth.

At 4.30am on Wednesday the EA said: 'The river levels in South Devon remain high due to recent rainfall and are likely to remain high throughout Wednesday.'

Eastern areas of Ivybridge suffered flooding in similar locations to where they also suffered flooding in the summer.

Parts of Exeter Road and Rue St Pierre were heavily underwater after the excess water had run down from near the train station.

A nearby resident said: 'We obviously had very bad flooding over the summer and this is not as bad as that but it is still a big issue, especially with plans to develop the eastern area of the town.'

A spokesman from Ivybridge Town Council said: 'Our caretaker has been out around the town looking at floods and Devon County Council Highways were clearing Exeter Road at 8.15am on Wednesday and water had been running down Rue St Pierre into Oak Gardens and it had flooded one man's garage.'

The main road between Avonwick and Totnes was reported as flooded on local radio stations and the Avon Inn at Avonwick suffered floods for the third time in five months.

The pub's beer garden, outhouse and car park were all flooded.

Pub landlord Gary Needs said: 'The problem we have is that the pumping station on the opposite side of the road from us cannot deal with the demand and we have been flooded seven times in the three years we have been here.

'The problem is from surface water running off the nearby land as oppose to the river overflowing.

'The drains can't take it and we end up with flooding which is affecting our trade.'

Joint landlord Karen Needs said: 'It is deeply frustrating. We have informed South West Water that the pumping station can't cope and nothing has been done.

'People will see the flooding in the car park and be put off. We won't get any lunch time trade today and our toilets have also been affected.'

Further flooding was sustained in Yealmpton and in Newton Ferrers.

There were reports of the A379 cut off by flooding briefly before the road became passable.

There was also flooding towards the lower part of the village on the road between Yealmpton and Newton Ferrers.

Yealmpton Parish Council vice-chairman Geoff Craddock said: 'I went down to the bottom of the village on Wednesday morning to see what had been flooded.

'There was standing water on the road between Yealmpton and Newton Ferrers but it was passable and it was nothing like the flooding we had over the summer.

'As far as I am aware no properties have been flooded.'

More heavy rain, and strong to gale force winds are expected across the UK over the weekend.

The Met Office, EA and Scottish Environment Protection Agency are warning the public to be prepared for possible travel disruption and flooding as some areas see up to 60 mm on top of the rain that has fallen over the last few days.

Bob Wilderspin Met Office chief forecaster said on Wednesday: 'The current unsettled spell of weather is set to continue with further spells of heavy rain expected across the country over the next few days.

'A particularly squally day is expected on Thursday as strong to gale force winds combine with heavy rain moving in from the west.

'Winds may be gusting up to 60 to 70mph in places and 20 to 50mm of rain falling in a short period of time.

'We urge everyone to keep up to date with forecasts and warnings and be prepared for what the weather will bring.'

Alison Baptiste EA flood risk manager said: 'We strongly urge people to sign up to flood warnings on the EA website, keep a close eye on local weather forecasts and be prepared for flooding.

We also ask that people stay safe, by staying away swollen rivers and not attempting to drive through floodwater.

'EA teams have been mobilised across the country to check on flood defences, clear any river blockages and closely monitor river levels. These teams work around the clock to reduce the risk of flooding, and will be out in force over the coming days.'