Nearly 120 flood warnings have been issued after parts of England were deluged with a month’s worth of rain over 24 hours, forcing people to evacuate their homes and stranding others in a shopping centre overnight.

Dozens of people stayed overnight in the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield after turning up for the Christmas lights switch-on as traffic ground to a halt outside.

On Thursday, 35 homes were evacuated as a precaution in Mansfield after a mudslide at an old quarry.

An Environment Agency rain gauge showed Swineshaw in the Peak District saw 4.4in (112mm) of rain on Thursday – the highest total of anywhere across England – while flood-hit parts of Sheffield experienced 3.4in (85mm) during the same period.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “Some places have seen a month’s worth of rain in one day. The rain is easing and moving south but obviously the impact of that will continue to be felt.”

Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Show all 30 1 /30 Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area in Doncaster Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster Members of the Fire and Rescue team carry an elderly resident to dry land amid flooding in Doncaster AFP/Getty Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man cycles through a flooded street in South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster A resident carries a dog to safety on Yarborough Terrace in Doncaster, South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster A resident inspects floodwater on his doorstep in Bentley, north of Doncaster Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster People are ferried to safety on Yarborough Terrace in Doncaster, South Yorkshire after the region enddured a month's worth of rain in a day PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Leicestershire Delivery lorry stranded in floodwater at Coston Ford in Leicestershire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Rotherham Shop floor of a bed store that has flooded after the River Don burst its banks in South Yorkshire Getty Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the garden of a house in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Derwent in Belper Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Doncaster DONCASTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 12: Flood water covers the roads and part of local houses in the Fishlake area on November 12, 2019 in Doncaster, England. More heavy rain is expected in parts of the Midlands and Yorkshire as the Environment Agency issues 30 flood warnings and five severe warnings on the River Don in South Yorkshire. The prime minister is chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee later today. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) Christopher Furlong Getty Images Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man tries to unblock a drain in Whirlow PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Mansfield Torrential rain has led to a mudslide which has forced the evacuation of residents along Bank End Close PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooding on Bridlegate in the town centre of Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Birdge on the swollen River Don by Rotherham town centre Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooded railway track at Kiveton, South Yorkshire PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire South Yorkshire emergency responders rescue a pair of people stranded on the A633 by Rotherham South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Rother by Killamarsh in Derbyshire @wendytinley/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Flooding by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield, @Eggy5691/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Rotherham Emergency responders ferry people to safety on the A633 Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding on the River Derwent in Belper, Derbyshire Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Derbyshire Flooding at a junction in Belper, Derbyshire Mike Saqui/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield Saturated ground at Flockton Park in Sheffield, South Yorkshire @DanielH60694431/PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles are stranded in floodwater on the A633 by Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles are stranded in floodwater on an industrial park in Rotherham Reuters Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire Vehicles drive along a flooded road by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England South Yorkshire A car is stranded in floodwater by Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield PA Homes evacuated as flooding chaos strikes England Sheffield A man wades down a flooded road in Whirlow, Sheffield PA

As of Friday morning, the Environment Agency issued five “danger to life” severe flood warnings along the River Don at Barnby Dun, Kirk Bramwith, Kirk Sandall, South Bramwith and the Willow Bridge caravan site, which are all in Doncaster.

A total of 121 flood warnings were in place as well as 119 flood alerts.

There were nearly 30 flood warnings in place for Nottinghamshire, where Boris Johnson, the prime minister, is due to visit on Friday.

In Yorkshire, Doncaster Council told people in parts of Kirk Sandall to “evacuate immediately” at around 7am after the River Don breached its banks.

A man cycles through a flooded street in Sheffield (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Met Office predicted the flooding rains would clear and move south-east by lunchtime, but many flood warnings were expected to remain in place for the next few days.

Some of the most dramatic scenes of flooding were in Sheffield and Rotherham, where several roads were left impassable to traffic.

Cars were also stranded in floodwater and gridlock on many routes.

A number of houses were evacuated after they were flooded in the village of Whiston, near Rotherham.

Cars and roads were engulfed in Rotherham (Tony Griffin)

In Sheffield, the council closed Millhouses Park, where a 14-year-old boy was swept to his death in the River Sheaf during the devastating floods in the city in 2007.

South Yorkshire Police said there had been “significant issues” in Doncaster, with Bentley, Toll Bar and Scawthorpe the worst affected areas.

Police were also called to the Parkgate Shopping Park in Rotherham on Thursday night, amid reports shoppers were trapped inside due to flood waters.

South Yorkshire Police tweeted that they were working to move “a number of people” who were stranded in the complex to “a place of safety”.