The water level has become too high in the cistern - old cisterns used to overflow through a pipe to the outside of the property - modern installations have the overflow into the pan.
Take the lid off the cistern and operate the flush mechanism - you will see a float on an arm fall with the water level and then slowly return as the cistern fills.
Lift the arm by hand until the water stops coming in - watch the inlet valve close and open again as you raise and lower the float arm.
Notice the nylon adjuster screw - you want the screw to close the valve sooner - screw the adjustment in towards the control so that the level of the water when it shuts off is about 15 mm below the level of the overflow tube.
Do up the locking nut - else it may all happen again.
Go in peace..., March 2015