Hundreds of thousands of Britons hit by the worst flooding in 60 years faced further misery on Thursday as forecasters predicted more rain in the areas most badly affected.

Two people were found dead a cellar in the west of England, raising to at least eight the number of people to have died as a result of record rainfall that has washed out many summer holidays.

The pair were believed to have been overcome by fumes from a petrol-powered pump as they tried to remove water from the basement of a rugby club, police said.

Up to 3,50,000 people in central parts of the country remain without running water after the floods damaged power sub-stations and knocked out sewage systems.

In the past two months, Britain has experienced the highest rainfall since records began in 1766, leading rivers to burst their banks and forcing up to 10,000 people from their homes.

Insurers have said the combined cost of the June and July floods could top 3 billion pounds ($ 6 b). There is also expected to be a heavy impact on agriculture, with farmers warning that any more rain could affect harvests.