The Environment Agency has warned the UK faces a high likelihood of winter floods due to already saturated ground and swollen rivers after an especially wet summer.

It said that because the ground is so wet in some areas, just an average amount of rainfall over the winter could cause flooding.

Experts from the Agency warn of increased risk of river flooding for the rest of the year in the southwest and northern and western parts of England and Wales, while southern counties such as Dorset and Hampshire are vulnerable to groundwater flooding because water in aquifers takes more time to flow away underground.

“Most areas of the UK are vulnerable simply because we have had so much water any additional rain could cause flooding,” said a spokesman for the Environment Agency.

“Even relatively small amounts of rainfall could cause flooding simply because the ground is so saturated.”

This year Britain recorded its wettest April to June, as well as heavy rainfall in July, September and October, leading to severe flooding across the country.

Sarah Jackson, the Met Office's chief adviser to the government, said:

"We are heading into the winter period which is traditionally the wetter period of the year in the UK.

"Because the ground is so wet, if we do have any prolonged heavy rainfall in any part of the country, there is going to be heightened risk of flooding."

The risk of coastal flooding is also high this time of year due to high spring tides in the middle of November and December.

The UK has in recent years suffered several summers with above average rainfall, and with this possibly set to continue, is there room for innovation in flood defence systems to relieve the ground of water saturation and avoid a heightened risk of winter flooding?