DRIVING rain and high winds gave way to bright sunshine but forecasters today warned there is more poor weather on the way.

Drivers in back roads near Cricklade were forced to dodge long stretches of flooding after around an inch of rain was dumped on the area in the early hours of yesterday.

The storm which brought havoc to much of the South West is now safely passing over Scotland and Northern England.

Now the Swindon area faces two days of sunshine and heavy showers and the strong winds which were a feature of Thursday night will remain.

Forecaster Sean Clarke said: "We are past the worst, but there is some bad weather left.

"Today will be a case of sunshine and showers and if you are lucky your area will remain dry all day," he said.

"But there is more rain on the way tomorrow and although it is fairly mild for the time of year it will feel cold in gusts of up to 40mph."

The A346 road, which runs from Swindon and through Marlborough, flooded north of Burbage on Thursday night and there was also flooding between Burbage and Pewsey.

Three cars were stranded by floods at the Lydeway in Devizes, and drivers leaving their cars at Swindon's railway station were forced to wade through large puddles.

Rail services in England's South West could be disrupted for up to a week as a result of the storms.

First Great Western and Thames Trains services through Swindon remain disrupted because of flooding at the Chipping Sodbury tunnel.

First Great Western yesterday halted its services to Taunton because of a flooded bridge just north of Exeter.

Bus services were organised for passengers to and from various locations in Devon to Bristol.

Some travellers are facing a two-hour road journey from Plymouth to Bristol due to the combination of weather problems and ongoing engineering work.