Rising water levels in the River Thames forced nearly 100 Oxford residents from their homes on Wednesday as Britain continued to grapple with its worst floods in 60 years.

The classrooms of Oxford University escaped the deluge as water levels crested late in the day, but nearby areas were covered by as much as a metre of water.

Philip Marsden uses his punt for transport in flood water at his home in Oxford, England, Wednesday.
(Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press)

Meanwhile, floodwaters started to recede in Gloucestershire, the county worst hit by the deluge, as residents waited to collect rations of bottled water. Officials say 350,000 people in the area could be without running water for the next two weeks.

Thursday's weather forecast includes more rain, which could lead to further flooding as tributaries overflow into the Thames and Severn, Britain's two largest rivers.

Water levels in communities west of London such as Reading, Henley-on-Thames and Windsor are expected to peak Thursday. The flood is not expected to reach London.

Britain's environmental agency still has six severe flood warnings in place across western England, the BBC reported.

On Tuesday, three flood-related deaths were reported, including two newborn twins who died after their mother went into labour at home in Tewkesbury, north of Gloucester, where she was trapped by the rising water.

With files from the Associated Press