Torrential rain warning for UK

Torrential downpours could hit parts of the UK today, with severe weather warnings issued by the Met Office.

Forecasters from the Met warned slow-moving showers could continue throughout the day in northern and eastern England.

But heavy and thundery showers in parts of Scotland were due to have eased by this morning.

Meanwhile, a "low risk" of flooding remained in Lincolnshire, northern England and Nottinghamshire, according to the Environment Agency.

Aisling Creevey, a forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Across south-eastern Scotland, north-eastern England and parts of east Cumbria there are likely to be showers through the day, possibly merging of longer spells of rain.

"There's also a risk of locally torrential downpours.

"It looks like the showers will dry out by the late afternoon and by this evening it will be mostly dry."

Yesterday, flood warnings were issued for the North East, parts of Cumbria, the East of England and the East Midlands.

Heavy showers last night were expected to continue today, with the possibility of roads and homes becoming flooded.

But the risk of rivers bursting their banks remained low.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Met Office and Environment Agency staff are on 24-hour alert as slow-moving heavy and thundery showers develop over eastern and northern parts of the country.

"The public are encouraged to tune in to local media for weather forecasts for their area and to keep an eye out for signs of flash flooding."

PA