Britain set for respite from rain

Britain should get some respite from the dismal Bank Holiday weather before further heavy rain and strong winds bring a disappointing end to the long weekend.

Widespread torrential downpours battered the UK's shores on Saturday with up to an inch of rain falling in some places.

The wet weather caused transport problems across the country and prompted the Environment Agency (EA) to issue a number of flood warnings and alerts.

More rain is expected in England later, but forecasters said the showers should not be as widespread or heavy as Saturday's powerful deluges.

Andy Ratcliffe, forecaster at MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It will be a dry day for most of the UK today but there will still be the chance of a few showers across northern England, the Midlands and East Anglia throughout the morning.

"You could catch the odd heavy one but they will not be as widespread or as bad as yesterday."

One flood warning - the second highest alert which means flooding is expected - is in place at Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire after heavy showers caused rising river levels.

Fourteen flood alerts - the lowest level of warning which means flooding is possible - have also been issued. Eight are in place in the north-west, four in the north-east, and one in both the Midlands and the south-west.

Heavy rain is expected to return overnight with winds of up to 50mph bringing a gusty end to the Bank Holiday weekend.

Mr Ratcliffe said: "The winds will strengthen overnight and bring rain in western areas of the UK which will spread eastwards during Monday. The showers will become heavy and persistent and exposed western areas will be hit with gusts of 50mph."

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