SUFFOLK was mopping up today after nearly half the expected rain for June fell in just 24 hours.

SUFFOLK was mopping up today after nearly half the expected rain for June fell in just 24 hours.

Just under an inch of rain fell in Ipswich between 8am yesterday and the same time today - causing flooding problems in places across the area.

Police were alerted to “fairly deep water” at Thorpe Hill, Burstall at 9.20pm last night.

A few minutes earlier, at 9.14pm, a call was received by a member of the public in Shotley requesting sandbags.

The call, which came from the main street, was passed on to the Highways Agency.

A further call was received to reports of flooding and a fallen tree in Church Road, Otley, at about 3.20am today. The tree was cleared by 5.25am although the road was still suffering from heavy water.

Then at 8am today police were contacted about flooding of the road and pathway in The Street, Rushmere St Andrew.

The Environment Agency had warned yesterday that towns and villages in Suffolk could experience localised flooding.

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers said a total of 0.9inches of rain fell in the 24 hours between 8am yesterday and 8am today. This is around half the monthly rainfall for June (1.82 inches) in just one day.

Mr Blowers said the amount of rain falling came to around one million tonnes.

He said: “If this weather goes on over the next two to three weeks it will be classed as a European monsoon which means if the weather is poor during June it will go on being poor for the remainder of the summer.”

Mr Blowers said the short-term outlook is good with the weather set to improve today, becoming drier, brighter and warmer.

But Meteorological Office forecasters warn that June is likely to be fairly changeable - with no guarantee of a long spell of fine weather.