As of Friday at 1pm, 264 flood warnings - meaning floods are expected - were in place in England, as well as two in Wales, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warning of a coming cold snap.

There are also 295 flood alerts in total, suggesting flooding is possible, while the Environment Agency says more than 1,000 properties across England have been flooded this week.

Follow live: Flooding across England

It has caused a major incident in Nottinghamshire - which has seen 64% of its average January rainfall in just four days - due to rising water levels along the River Trent.

Officials have told residents in flood-risk areas to be prepared to evacuate, as forecasts showed peaks along the river could "come close to the highest levels on record from the year 2000", Nottinghamshire County Council said.

Data from the Environment Agency shows almost every river in England to be exceptionally high, with some reaching their highest flow on record, such as the River Itchen in Southampton.

In central London, a party boat sank in the Thames - with its owners saying the cause was likely "because of weather conditions". The coastguard told Sky News that "everyone is accounted for".

The Met Office's yellow weather warning for rain across the South of England expired at 3am on Friday, but the Environment Agency says the impact of surface water and river flooding could be felt for several days.

Check out the latest weather forecast where you are

Train journeys are likely to be affected on Friday, with South Western Railway services disrupted across its entire network and dealing with major issues on its West of England routes.

Great Western Railway has also apologised to passengers for "significant disruption" after flooding and a serious incident near Reading, which "involved police taking control of the line" and has left trains and crew in the wrong place.

Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson says the forecast looks more settled as we head into the weekend, but it will be colder than recently.

To that end, the UKHSA has issued a cold weather alert - from 9am on Saturday until noon on 12 January - as temperatures are set to plummet over the coming days.

The Met Office added the cold snap will be caused by high pressure building over the UK into the next week, with drivers urged to be cautious of ice.

The highest rainfall totals recorded on Thursday were 44mm at Otterbourne in Hampshire, with a wide range of 20mm to 30mm across much of the southern counties of England.

It comes just days after disruption caused by strong winds and rain from Storm Henk, which has left the ground saturated and more prone to flooding.

Late on Thursday, 10 fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to a big flood in east London.

About 50 people were evacuated from buildings after a canal burst its banks in Hackney Wick, with an area of 10 acres - roughly the size of eight football pitches - affected.

Other key developments:
• Tewkesbury experiences worst flooding since 2007
• Cows drown in flooded field in Derbyshire
• Police force referred to watchdog after woman dies after hitting fallen tree
• People stranded in their homes in Shrewsbury

Urging people to be prepared to evacuate due to the flooding, Nottinghamshire County Council said: "Residents who live in the flood risk areas are being asked to ensure they have preparations in place in case they are asked to evacuate.

"Councils, emergency services and the Environment Agency have been providing emergency support to communities impacted and will continue to provide support across the county."

The message came after a man stranded on his shed roof by floodwater in Nottinghamshire was rescued by a fire crew who used a boat to bring him safely to land.

'Outside their front doors it's like a river'

Meanwhile, several residents of Radcliffe Residential Park, an estate of static caravans for the over-55s just to the east of Nottingham in the East Midlands, had to be evacuated due to high water levels.

Laurie Walker, chairman of Radcliffe Park Residents' Association, said: "I've had someone knock on my door to say the water is going to rise another 25cm. Outside their front doors, it's like a river, I don't know if the homes have been flooded.

"To come out of the park I've had to walk through somebody else's garden to avoid the flood on the road. It's the worst it's ever been, I've been here seven years. It's a mess."

Pub landlord in tears after business floods

Parts of Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Bedfordshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and West Sussex have also been flooded.

Mario Thomas, 65, landlord of The Boat Inn in Jackfield, Shropshire, has said he broke down in tears after "evil" floodwaters devastated his pub.

He said the water was up to his chest when he entered the pub close to the River Severn.

Police refers itself to watchdog after woman's death

Meanwhile, Thames Valley Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over the death of an 87-year-old woman in Oxfordshire who crashed into a tree.

The force said it received a report about the tree around 90 minutes before the collision.