More than half of drivers claimed they were not worried about flooding in the week before Storm Bert hit the UK.

The AA conducted a poll of more than 11,000 drivers, revealing that 55 per cent were unconcerned about potential flooding in their area.

In the West Midlands, which was severely affected by flooding over the weekend, 51 per cent of drivers said they were not worried about the prospect of flooding.

Read more: Storm Bert: Worcestershire flood warnings and road closures

The survey also found that more than a third of drivers (36 per cent) felt confident that there are sufficient flood defences to protect local roads.

In comparison, more than a fifth (23 per cent) have confidence in the flood defences protecting rural roads, while half have faith that main roads (49 per cent), A roads, and motorways will be prevented from flooding (51 per cent).

Three in five (62 per cent) are confident that there are adequate flood defences in place to protect homes.

The regions with the highest percentage of people 'not worried at all' at the prospect of flooding are Northern Ireland (63 per cent), London (62 per cent), and Yorkshire & Humberside (60 per cent).

Around 150 flood warnings remain in place across England and Wales following heavy rainfall from the storm, which caused significant damage to homes, cars, and roads.

The AA is advising drivers to be careful when driving through standing water, and to check routes before setting off to avoid getting caught out.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, said: "As we have seen across the weekend and today, flooding can cause serious damage and disruption.

"The randomness of torrential rainfall leading to flood damage perhaps leads people to hope against hope that they are not the next victims.

"However, particularly with driving, torrential rainfall can be dangerous wherever people travel, not just in areas prone to flooding.

"The images of severely flooded roads only serve as a reminder of the dangers floods can cause in the moment.

"There are also long term consequences of flooding, especially on local and rural roads where the water can damage road surfaces and the infrastructure lying underneath them."