A “major operation” is underway to clear up damage from torrential rain in south west England over the weekend – with forecasters predicting a drier and milder week ahead.

Parts of Scotland and northern England saw heavy snow, while floods induced by heavy rain forced the evacuation of homes in Devon on Sunday.

Five flood warnings for people to take “immediate action” remain in Northampton, Wiltshire, Cornwall, Herefordshire and Somerset.

There are a further 61 flood alerts across the UK, urging people to “be prepared”, but no weather warnings.

Forecasters are predicting a milder and drier week, with temperatures rising to double figures – potentially as high as 14C in Bristol and London and 13C in Newcastle – on Tuesday.

The water level reaches nearly 5 feet at a ford near Charvil, Berkshire, as after flooding affected parts of the country (Steve Parsons/PA)
The water level reaches nearly five feet at a ford near Charvil, Berkshire (Steve Parsons/PA)

A spokeswoman for the Met Office said: “We are looking at temperatures improving, with Tuesday likely to be the mildest day of the week.

“As we get towards the end of the week, things do get cooler but not as cold as we have had.”

Temperatures are expected to lower to between 8C and 10C by the end of the week.

“We are looking at a fairly unsettled picture as we go through the week,” the spokeswoman said.

“It will be changeable but in between that there are some sunny spells.”

The north west could see heavy showers, possibly with hail and thunder, on Wednesday.

There is potential for snow over higher ground in the north at the end of the week.

On Sunday, people were forced to flee homes in Kentisbury, near Barnstaple, and other properties were flooded in Combe Martin on nearby Exmoor.

Paul and Lucy Davis clear silt and debris from their home on Corner Lane, Combe Martin, North Devon, after flooding affected parts of the South West (Ben Birchall/PA)
Paul and Lucy Davis clear silt and debris from their home on Corner Lane, Combe Martin, North Devon, after flooding affected parts of the South West (Ben Birchall/PA)

Conservative councillor Andrea Davis, who represents Combe Martin Rural, tweeted that her area was “the worst affected”.

“There is now a major operation underway by @DevonCC and our contractor #Skanska please drive carefully as sweepers, JCBs etc will be in our roads working,” she tweeted.

In Somerset, Cheddar Gorge remains closed to traffic.

Motorists are being urged to avoid Cheddar Gorge, which is being closed for safety reasons following poor weather which…

Posted by Avon and Somerset Constabulary on Sunday, January 21, 2018

Avon and Somerset Police said heavy rainfall had washed “some rocks and debris into the gorge”, leaving vehicles unable to travel through.

Trains are unable to operate between Porth and Treherbert in south Wales due to a landslip, National Rail said.