RESIDENTS in many parts of Britain are bracing themselves for a repeat of the Atlantic storm that killed a man and caused widespread disruption on Wednesday.

Torrential rain and high gusts are expected across the country, reaching parts of the south and west of Scotland today. Yesterday about 56,000 UK properties remained without electricity following the deadly storm, with its gusts of wind up to 112mph.

The Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning for rain in the water-logged south-west England and another for wind along England's south coast this evening and into tomorrow.

It has also issued several lower-level yellow warnings for rain, snow and wind across much of the UK.

More than 2000 personnel from the army, navy and RAF have been committed to tasks, with thousands more at a state of "high readiness." Military personnel in command headquarters across flood-affected areas were dealing with requests for help.

In the Thames Valley, around 100 troops from 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers are in Wraysbury, Berkshire, while more than 300 service personnel are in Windsor, Datchet, Chertsey and Egham in Surrey.

In flood-hit Somerset, firefighters wearing dry suits and using wading poles rescued a couple who became stranded in their car by rising waters.

Earlier, one man died as he was electrocuted trying to clear fallen trees in Wiltshire.

Scores of trees were removed from rail lines, including the West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and London as services got back to normal yesterday, but

the A93 at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, was closed due to snow.