Heavy rains cause flooding in southeast England as Britons vote on EU

Britain's Met office says further showers and thunderstorms are expected in London and the southeast

LONDON: Heavy rains in southeast England on Thursday flooded streets, disrupted travel and closed two polling stations on the day Britons voted whether to remain in the European Union.

Britain's Met office said further showers and thunderstorms were expected in London and the southeast on Thursday afternoon and evening, and the Environment Agency issued flood warnings.



A man queues in the rain outside a polling station for the Referendum on the European Union in north London, Britain, June 23, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

Lightning lit up the London sky on Wednesday night, accompanied by heavy rain. Aerial footage showed cars in floodwater in the town of Horsham, south of London.

The London Fire Brigade said it had received more than 550 emergency calls related to the weather.

In southwest London, two polling stations in the borough of Kingston Upon Thames were moved to other locations after flooding in the area, the council said.

London's underground and surrounding rail network were also disrupted by the heavy rain.