Forecasters believe that the weather is set to improve, after “treacherous” conditions in parts of the country following intense rainfall and flooding.

The North East will face the worst of Thursday’s rain, after torrential downpours saw flooding hit parts of the Midlands late on Wednesday night.

Some properties and roads were inundated and a number of people needed rescuing from cars caught in floodwater in Nottingham and Warwickshire as the inclement weather moved across the country.

An amber weather warning is in place for the North East of England, and the Met Office said: “The amber area is where we’re expecting the highest total of rainfall.”

The service tweeted: “Amber and yellow warnings are in force for Thursday morning, so conditions on the roads will be treacherous for some with surface water flooding and intense rainfall.”

In total,  24 flood warnings are in place across England in areas where flooding is expected, and a further 69 flood alerts, warning people to be prepared.

The heaviest rainfall of the day so far was recorded in Chillingham Barns, Northumberland, where there was almost 2.5cm of rain between 1am and 7am.

Elsewhere, Waddington in Lincolnshire had nearly 40mm rainfall over a period of 14 hours, while over the same period Coleshill in Warwickshire had 30mm and there was 31mm at Astwood Bank in Worcestershire.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said nearly half of its call-outs overnight were related to the weather, with 31 of 71 calls to the service coming from people concerned about flood water.

Nottingham City Transport said many roads had been affected by standing water and floods while the Environment Agency said a number of people had to be rescued in the city after getting stuck driving through flood water.

Operations manager Kelly Golds tweeted: “So far tonight in #Nottingham 18 people have had to be rescued by emergency services after getting stuck driving through flood water. Just 30cm of fast flowing water is enough to move your car. #floodaware”

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) said it was advising residents in the village of Lambley to stay indoors due to floodwater.

And Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said three people had to be rescued from a car stuck in a ford in a village near Sutton Coldfield late on Wednesday night.

Rail users were also hit by delays,  after a number of weather-related disruptions.

A train hit part of a tree on the track following heavy rain in the East Midlands.

Lines were blocked near Uttoxeter after a fallen tree was spotted shortly after 7am and one train hit the branches.

East Midlands Trains tweeted: “Luckily no major damage was done or anybody injured.”

Trains were also stopped near Stratford-upon-Avon after the tracks became waterways on the route to Whitlock End.

However, forecasters said conditions were set to improve over the coming days.

Met Office meteorologist Ollie Claydon  believed the worst of the rainfall has passed.

He said: “When it comes to the peak of rainfall intensity, we’ve seen it this morning.

“Throughout today we will expect it to ease down.”

According to the Met Office, the wettest ever June for the UK as a whole was in 2012 when an average of 149mm of rain fell, as of June 11, the UK has seen 55.9mm of total rainfall.

Between 1981 and 2010, the average total June rainfall was 73.4mm.

Mr Claydon said it was quite common for summer rain to fall in intense periods, unlike in winter when it tends to be spread over the month.

He explained: “It’s not unusual to see high volumes of monthly rainfall in a small number of days.”

“Over the weekend we will be heading back towards average.

“Today, London will be looking at a high of 15 degrees, by tomorrow we are looking at 19.”

While there may still be some rain and cloud in places, he said “it will be nothing like we’ve seen over the last week.

“By the middle of next week things look like they will be calming down.

“It will be drier with a bit more sun around.”