Met Office issues TWO red alerts for deadly weather in the same day for the first time ever as five inches of rain is forecast and 360 flood warnings are issued across Britain

The Met Office has issued two red alerts for rain, which is deemed to be potentially deadly, as severe weather is battering parts of Britain today. Red alerts are the highest possible warnings, meaning there is 'a danger to life'. It is extremely rare for the weather agency to issue them, with the two previous ones coming a year apart. The alert, which advises people to 'take action', expect disruption to travel and be prepared to evacuate their homes, is in place for Lancashire (inset, Ribchester) and Yorkshire & Humber (main image, Mytholmroyd). Around five inches of rain is expected to fall today, almost as much as the average December rainfall in the UK.