East warned of thunderstorm disruption

A warning of thunderstorms and heavy showers this weekend has been issued for the East of England, though some places will escape the bad weather.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire for the whole of Saturday, starting shortly after midnight on Friday.

Where storms do occur, 20-40mm of rain could fall in under an hour, and "the most intense storms" could see hail and frequent lightning.

Some roads could become flooded and some areas could experience power cuts, the organisation said.

"Whilst some places will remain dry, thunderstorms and heavy showers could cause some disruption on Saturday in a few places", the Met Office said.

Other parts of southern England could also be hit by the scattered storms on Friday.

Infrastructure could be affected, with spray and sudden flooding making driving conditions difficult and lightning causing delays to train and bus services.

Homes and businesses could also be damaged by floodwater, hail or strong winds.

People are being encouraged to keep up to date with the forecast and travel conditions, and secure any items that could blow away such as trampolines and bins.

Anyone finding themselves outside when thunder rumbles is urged to find a "safe, enclosed shelter, such as a car" and avoid hiding under trees or other tall structures that could get struck by lightning.

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