At least 1,000 properties across England and Wales have been flooded after some areas of the country received a month's worth of rain in 24 hours.

Three people have been killed as a result of the heavy rain and severe flooding, with a motorist in Worcestershire also feared dead after a submerged car was found in Pershore.

Environment secretary David Miliband told MPs today that thousands of people had been forced to evacuate their homes after 4mm of rain fell over the last day.

Among the worst-affected areas are South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, with 26 flood warnings still in place across England and Wales.

The M1 has been closed between junctions 32 and 34 in both directions amid fears the Ulley dam could be in danger of bursting, while public transport services have been similarly decimated by the weather.

In a statement to the House of Commons Mr Miliband insisted the government would "learn the lessons" it needed to with regards to flood defence systems.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency added that its workforce was "managing flood defences and monitoring river levels and rain gauge stations".

"We are also assisting emergency services where appropriate," the representative added

"Although rain has now stopped falling in most of the areas in England and Wales affected by the very heavy rainfall on Monday, if you are in an affected area you should remain vigilant."

Earlier prime minister Tony Blair said the government's priorities were to "prevent any further loss of life".

Yesterday a 68-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy died in separate incidents after being swept away in Sheffield, with 28-year-old Mike Barnett dying in Hull after becoming trapped in a storm drain.

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