More than a dozen flood warnings are in place and weather warnings have been issued across England and Wales for torrential rain.

The government’s flood information service has 13 warnings where “immediate action is required” across Yorkshire, the Midlands and Wales on Saturday.

There are four Met Office weather warnings in place for rain, covering parts of Wales as well as northern and south-western parts of England.

Early on Saturday morning, Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service said crews had been sent to help motorists who had driven into flood water.

It said on Twitter that large volumes of flood water in north Devon were making driving conditions hazardous, adding that officers had attended to “a number of people who have driven into floodwater”.

The service said: “Drivers are asked to respect road closures, not diverting to minor roads which are more treacherous. Avoid travel.”

Fire crews were called to homes in the market town of Wem and Market Drayton in Shropshire after water was threatening electrical systems.

West Mercia and Shrewsbury police said many rural roads were under water, while South Worcestershire police said officers had rescued three people from a car in flood water in Green Lane, Droitwich.

Humberside police said a number of roads were impassable because of flooding and urged drivers to avoid the area around the B1246 at Warter.

As much as 120mm of rain could fall in parts of Wales with the Met Office warning fast-flowing flood water was “likely” in the area which could cause a “danger to life”. Libanus in south Wales has had 93mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.

In Nuneaton, Warwickshire, fire crews said conditions were “very hazardous” with several incidents across the county of people “marooned in flood water”.

The showers have also resulted in travel disruption and events being cancelled, particularly in the Midlands, Greater Manchester and Wales.

Several rail lines in and out of Shrewsbury have been affected and replacement buses are being used.

There are also reports of problems on some major roads including the A49, A53 and A442.

Stockport council said it had closed the A555 between the oil terminal and the A34 junction at Handforth Dean in both directions.

Transport for Wales said lines from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Wrexham and Crewe were closed with rail replacement buses requested.

In a statement, the rail operator told the BBC: “Customers travelling on these routes should not to travel unless absolute necessary. Road transport is extremely limited and there are reports of issues on the roads.”

Heavy rain also flooded the railway through Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with National Rail stating that the disruption would last until the end of the day.

Transport for Wales said severe rail service delays had been reported between Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Birmingham and no replacement road transport was available.

In Derbyshire, the Matlock Bath Illuminations was cancelled because the river Derwent has flooded, while Nottingham Forest football club called off its match in the Championship against Reading as the pitch was in an “unplayable condition”.

Meanwhile, a burst of “polar maritime air” is also expected to bring colder temperatures to northern parts of the UK on Saturday before hitting the rest of the country on Sunday and into next week.

This is expected to bring colder weather with the first widespread frost of the season anticipated over the weekend as well as a dusting of snow on higher ground.