More rain predicted for flood-hit areas.

Victims of the recent floods are facing more misery this weekend as more heavy rainfall is predicted to affect Wales and central and southern England.

The news comes as the clean-up operation continues in Gloucestershire, where there are still fears over health and sanitation areas in areas stricken by the floods.

Around 130,000 households in Gloucestershire are still without running water after the Mythe treatment plant flooded. It has now been pumped out and will be tested at the weekend.

Severn Trent Water has supplied bowsers to Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Gloucester and has warned that it could take a week to restore running water to some homes in Gloucestershire. However, mains water for washing and flushing toilets has been temporarily restored to around 10,000 homes in the Tewkesbury area.

The Health Protection Agency has warned people to avoid coming into direct contact with floodwater, because of a small risk of contracting a stomach bug or diarrhoea.

Fire officers have also warned people about the dangers of using petrol and electric pumps to remove floodwater following the deaths of a father and son in Gloucestershire.

Bram Lane and his son Chris died while pumping water out of the cellar of Tewkesbury Rugby Club. It is thought that they may have been overcome by fumes from the petrol-powered pump.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have spent the day visiting areas in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire affected by the floods.

The government has also announced a £10 million aid package for schools and children's services affected by the flooding.

On Thursday, the Met Office confirmed that May, June and July have been the wettest months since records began.

The Environment Agency still has three severe flood warnings in place along the River Thames.

(KMcA/SP)