OXFORDSHIRE is braced for more flooding as up to 40mm of rain is predicted to fall on the city over the next three days.

Environment Agency teams took precautionary action yesterday clearing grills and obstructions from rivers.

Spokesman Dave Ferguson said it was monitoring the situation closely.

He said: “We will issue necessary alerts in due time and advise the public to keep aware. Our teams are preparing for flooding, and are clearing drainage channels and checking flood defenses.

“We are watching the river levels closely and have teams out working in Oxford and Oxfordshire.”

He said it was not expected that properties would be in danger but advised residents to keep checking weather forecasts.

For the second day running the Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for rain.

Up to 20mm of rain was predicted to have fallen in 24 hours to the end of Thursday.

Friday will be drier but Saturday is again expected to deliver another 20mm of rain.

Oxfordshire waterways which remained on flood alert yesterday were the River Ray, River Cherwell, and the River Thame and Chalgrove Brook.

In the last 24 hours the River Thames and tributaries in the Oxford area were taken off flood alert, which had meant residents should be prepared for flooding.

Last month the county was subject to the worst flooding since 2007.

Across Oxfordshire more than 20 properties were damaged following torrential downpours.