Farmers struggling to survive a washout summer cannot harvest what little crop they have because of red tape stopping combine harvesters going on their wet soil.

The harvest has been seriously hindered by the wet weather and cool conditions that slow crop development and only about half of the harvest has been collected so far.

Now Government legislation put in place to protect wet soil from compaction and structural damage caused by using heavy duty vehicles is stopping farmers from getting their hands on what crops they have.

If farmers are found guilty by the Rural Payments Agency Inspectorate of not complying with the law they could suffer a payment reduction of thousands of pounds in their single farm payments.

But farmers are angry that Defra, the Department for Food and Rural Affairs, has done little to stop flooding.

Meanwhile, their misery is set to be compounded as Gloucestershire continues to remain on tenterhooks with more rain expected today and Thursday.

Jan Rowe, National Farmers' Union representative for Gloucestershire, said: "There will be some farmers in my part of the world who feel very hard done by.

"They complained bitterly last time that more should be done about drainage and are being penalised by not being allowed to go and get the crop that is any good.

"We have called for widening of ditches and drainage to try to stop land flooding and very little seems to have been done.

"Farmers are desperate to harvest their crops as soon as they can but are aware of the damage they could cause to their own land.

"It is a case where commonsense needs to prevail instead of bureaucracy getting in the way. This summer has been a serious problem with thousands of pounds being lost.

"Farmers need to be left to get on and manage their land and Defra needs to allow an amount of flexibility."

Farmer Ed Keene, of Newent in the Forest of Dean said: "The regulations were put there for a reason because one or two farmers have abused there soils which have caused excessive run off into water courses and adjoining properties.

"But there did not need to be a blanket ban. All that was needed was for the people who did this to be held accountable for damaging other people's property. The Government are trying to micro-manage from Whitehall how we run our businesses and I believe we are in the best position to make these judgments.

"In reality the last thing we are going to do is go out and cause a lot of damage by compacting our land because this would be damaging our own business and our future income.

"If push comes to shove and we have no alternative but to go on our land then we can apply to the Government for a derogation to hopefully do it anyway so it's all a bit of a pointless exercise."

A spokesman for Defra said: "We understand the problems farmers are facing with this year's harvest and remain in close contact with the NFU."

As more rain is expected to fall on Gloucestershire this week, the River Severn at Tewkesbury peaked and water once again filled the plains around the town but there were no reports of houses being flooded but the Environment Agency is urging everyone to remain vigilant.

The Meteorological Office has issued a warning particularly for Thursday saying there is a moderate risk of severe weather.

On Sunday morning firefighters were called to farms in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to rescue animals trapped by rising flood waters.

On Staplins Farm, Coombe Hill 25 lambs died but firefighters rescued 45 while the farmer managed to lead a further 350 to safety.

Two flood rescue teams were also working in Herefordshire at the weekend. Staff battled in up to 10ft of fast flowing water to rescue of four rams and 20 ewes, after the River Garron burst its banks.

Meanwhile Gloucestershire County Council has offered to put its emergency teams and equipment at Northumberland's disposal following the floods there.