Every river in Somerset is placed on flood alert Published duration 30 April 2012

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts for every river in Somerset after heavy rainfall.

The rain on Sunday caused Taunton Deane Cricket Club to flood and most of Vivary Park in Taunton has also been left under water.

On Sunday, 230 homes in the Midsomer Norton area and 96 homes in the Taunton area were left without power but most have now been reconnected.

Homes have also been flooded in Lydeard St Lawrence, West Hatch and Bickenhall.

John Rowlands from the Environment Agency said: "We've had some high rainfall totals particularly in West Somerset over the last 24 hours.

"We've over two inches of rain, or 65 mm, it's the same on the river Tone, so those are those are out areas of slight concern.

image caption The heavy rain has affected farmers with livestock on the Somerset Levels

"Because of the catchment themselves, the river Tone is a big river, we are expecting that to continue to rise, whereas in West Somerset, we will hopefully start to see the levels drop off.

The river Frome between Frome and Freshford was put on flood warning since Sunday evening until about 09:30 BST on Monday.

Flooding in the Curry Moor area on the Somerset Levels has also affected farmers with livestock.

Mary Kate Mahony from North Curry said: "We've got cattle, and my other half had them out at Curry Moor and he rang me last night on his way back from milking.

"He told me he had to get them in, and he ended up getting them at 7 o'clock last night before the area was flooded out. He needed to move them in two loads.

"They are quite big and he had a bit of a run round as they didn't want to go in."

The high winds has also forced the National Trust to close its properties at Montacute, Barrington Court, Lytes Cary and Tintinhull Manor.

'Absolute nightmare'

On Sunday, the grounds of Taunton Deane Cricket Club was left 30 cm deep in floodwater together with the neighbouring Vivary Park in the town centre.

image caption Taunton Deane Cricket Club was about 30cm under water after heavy rain on Sunday

Club chairman, Jason Squire, said: "It's up to the top of my welly boots. It flooded around 11 years ago, but this is worse, so we're not expecting to play cricket here for some time, it's an absolute nightmare."

The River Tone has also burst its banks.

BBC reporter, Andrew Plant in Bradford on Tone, near Taunton, said: "It's impossible to see where the river should end and where the fields should begin.

"There are trees here under water, halfway up their trunks, and in one direction the road is completely blocked."

Flooding has also been reported along the A38 between Taunton and Wellington, the A39 between Bridgwater and Minehead and the A359 between Mudford and Marston Magna.

Crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue were called out at about 06:00 BST to a report of animals trapped in pens due to flooded river banks in Glastonbury.

Firefighters have lowered the electric fences to try and encourage the animals away from the flood water.

The incident involved nine horses, two goats in water and a further five horses who were left stranded.