SWINDON could be hit by more floods today, the Met Office has warned.

Long periods of heavy rain and thunder is forecast with a 50 per cent chance of disruption to traffic.

A Met Office spokesman said: "There will be plenty of showers and longer outbreaks of rain so we can't rule out the chance of floods and dangerous driving conditions.

"Friday is expected to be similar but Saturday should be drier and fine. More rain is expected to move in from the west on Sunday."

The wet weather is continuing to cause problems.

Diners in Mario's restaurant in Old Town looked on as fire fighters pumped four inches of water from the basement floor following heavy showers yesterday morning.

The flooding occurred just before the restaurant opened for lunch yesterday.

Diners had to be seated in the upper part of the split-level basement.

Sub officer Clive Hall, of the Wiltshire Fire Brigade, said: "It was just a lot of rain in a very short time. We took the water out with an injector pump."

Enzo Coniglio, the owner of the Wood Street restaurant, said: "It's unbelievable that this could happen but that's nature for you.

"This used to happen here about 15 years ago but not recently. I suppose it does have a funny side, it's like having lunch in Venice."

Two weeks ago today Swindon was hit by torrential rain that caused flooding in many streets and lightening strikes.

Car parks were left under four inches of water and many roads became impassable after the freak storms.

Town centre shops including WH Smith and House of Fraser had water half-way up their doors.

This came just two days after sudden flooding on the Tuesday when power supplies were cut.

Flash floods happen when drains and the ground cannot cope with the torrential rain.

Police advise if you are driving you should try to move to higher ground and be careful of the depth of surface water as many cars can be damaged in just a few inches of water. Always test brakes after leaving floodwater.

Meanwhile in the Cornish village of Boscastle the clean up continues after the deluge earlier this week.

Prince Charles visited the village yesterday to offer his support to the emergency services and people left homeless by the flash floods. It is not just Britain that has been suffering. Yesterday France was battered by storms and strong winds.

Editor