WIND and rain lashed Wiltshire overnight but left the Swindon area relatively unscathed.

Gusts as high as 70mph were recorded and about an inch of rain fell after the storms arrived later yesterday afternoon.

Overnight, people living near the River Ray between Swindon and Cricklade were put on flood warning, but the water was receding by this morning.

Weather experts today reassured the public that the worst was over.

The police say the south of the county was worst hit, along with areas as far west as Devon and Cornwall. The A346 road, which runs from Swindon and through Marlborough, flooded north of Burbage overnight, with drivers warned to be alert. Drivers in Cricklade and Ashton Keynes reported flooding.

There was also flooding between Burbage and Pewsey. Three cars were stranded by floods at the Lydeway in Devizes, and Wiltshire police warned that the stretch was still impassable early this morning. First Great Western and Thames Trains services through Swindon were disrupted because of flooding at the Chipping Sodbury tunnel.

The South Wales to Paddington service was rerouted via Bristol Temple Meads. The Thames Train service from Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads was also rerouted away from Swindon.

because of congestion caused by flooding.