Residents in Helston have spent the night at a rest centre as the River Cober burst its banks, threatening to flood properties.

The Environment Agency said widespread flooding of properties was “imminent”. A severe flood warning is in place for St Johns Road, St Johns Close, Coronation Park and Loe Pool, meaning there is a danger to life. A number of roads across Devon and Cornwall have closed due to flooding. Police have evacuated people from their homes in a Cornwall town as rising river levels threaten to flood their properties.

Cornwall Council said it was opening a rest centre at Epworth Hall in Coinagehall Street, and that fire services in the area were prioritising emergency calls to those where life was at risk. In Cornwall many roads are flooded, resulting in a busy night for the emergency services.

Fire crews had been called to about 70 flood-related incidents across Cornwall since midnight, the council said.

Crews have attended incidents at St Austell, Lostwithiel, Looe, Helston, Hayle, Torpoint, Penzance, Probus, Durgan, Millbrook, St Columb and St Just.

Large amounts of surface water has been reported on roads in Cornwall as more rain lashes the county. Rail services between Par and Newquay and Liskeard and Looe because of flooding.

Several of Devon’s main routes have been closed this morning because of heavy rain and flooding overnight.

The Plymouth area is the worst affected in Devon. The A374 Gydnina way has been closed in both directions. Shapters road is closed, Sutton road and The Crescent are also closed due to flooding. The B3416 Plymouth road at Plympton is closed, reported Heart.co.uk.