FLOODS plagued the UK on Boxing Day, but MORE rain is on the way as bookies have slashed the odds that 2020 will be the wettest year EVER.

At least 30 flood warnings and 85 flood alerts have been issued in Britain after the Environment Agency has warned of the danger of rising groundwater.

Drivers in South West England were hit with delays this morning after floods shut the A35, A39 and A377.

The fire bridge rescued motorists from a car and lorry after it became stranded due to flood water.

Last night firefighters scrambled to Plymtree to rescue a driver who was unable to leave their car because of the height of the water.

Clare Dinnis, Environment Agency flood duty manager, said parts of South England and North Lincolnshire were most at risk of flooding following prolonged spells of rain.

She said: "While the weather outlook is improving, groundwater levels continue to rise after recent rainfall, meaning that there is a continued risk of groundwater flooding in parts of southern England over the next few days.

"We continue to monitor rainfall and river levels closely and to operate our flood defences, reducing the risk of flooding to thousands of homes and businesses and helping to keep people safe."

The agency has been using pumps to reduce water levels at Currymoor, Somerset.

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Today's misery comes as bookmaker Coral said it was 4/1 chance that next year will be wettest year since records began.

Coral's Harry Aitkenhead said: "The last few months of 2019 have seen the UK left absolutely drenched and as part of our New Year specials we are offering 4-1 on 2020 being the wettest year we've ever had.

"The optimistic punters wanting to back the hottest year can get 2-1, whilst it's 20-1 for rain to fall on every day of Wimbledon and put a dampener on one of the highlights of the British summer."

High pressure will bring a dry weekend for some as a north-south split will carry over the weekend from today.

Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said northern parts of the UK set for more rain as conditions in the south are expected to be drier.

Tomorrow the weather will see a similar split as it will drier and brighter for England and Wales, and rainy in parts of Scotland.

Conditions are expected to improve and Roberts added that the high pressure will "keep things fairly quiet for the next five to 10 days or so" for much of the country.

Coral's 2020 weather specials

• 2/1 2020 to be the hottest year on record
• 4/1 2020 to be the wettest year on record
• 20/1 rain to fall on every day of Wimbledon 2020

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