UK weather: Heavy rain and winds set to hit parts of the country

Heavy rain and strong winds are set to cause more disruption across the UK, with the risk of localised flooding and train delays.

Weather warnings are in place for much of the country on Friday and Saturday.

Motorists have been urged to check conditions before travelling while speed restrictions will be in place on some train lines on Saturday.

The Met Office forecasts winds of up to 60mph for parts of the Channel coast, south-west England and west Wales.

There is disruption to cross-Channel ferries and train lines in Scotland, while a number of outdoor events have been cancelled.

Among the cancellations are Boardmasters music festival in Newquay, Houghton dance festival in Norfolk and the first day of the Blackpool Air Show.

There is a yellow warning of heavy rain covering most of the UK for the whole of Friday.

The Met Office said the band of heavy rain that had pushed across the country would be followed by heavy showers or thunderstorms.

Met Office meteorologist Bonnie Diamond warned of localised flooding, difficult driving conditions and transport delays.

Between 21:00 BST on Thursday and 09:00 BST on Friday, Antrim in Northern Ireland saw 39mm of rainfall with the country's August average just 97.4mm, she said.

Shap in Cumbria recorded 38.6mm - more than half of England's August 69mm average - with Gwent in Wales reaching 34.8mm - a third of the country's 107mm August rainfall average.

A Waterstones book shop in Swansea was forced to close after rainwater started pouring through the ceiling, damaging scores of books.

Localised flooding has been reported in Wrexham and Newport in Wales. There are flood alerts across much of Scotland and in parts of England.

The yellow warning for wind, covering parts of Wales and south-west and southern England, lasts from 15:00 BST until midnight. A similar warning affects most of England and Wales for the whole of Saturday.

There is a further warning of thunderstorms, which could lead to flooding over the weekend, for Northern Ireland, most of Scotland and northern parts of England.

The Met Office warned the "unseasonable weather" had the potential to cause more problems as people were more likely to be outdoors.

Richard Leonard, head of road safety at Highways England, urged drivers to check conditions before they travelled and consider whether their journey was necessary.

"In high winds, there's a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we'd advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down and avoid using exposed sections of road if possible," he said.

The RNLI has warned people visiting the coast to beware of large waves and storms.

National Rail said high winds could affect coastal routes and speed restrictions would be in place across parts of the Gatwick Express, Southern, Southeastern, Great Northern and Thameslink networks on Saturday.

A 50mph speed restriction is expected to remain in place until Saturday evening between Oxenholme Lake District and Penrith stations due to the weather, it added.

Cancellations and delays are also expected between Coventry and Birmingham New Street until the end of the day after damage to overhead wires resulted in all lines being blocked.

Strong winds and heavy rain continues to cause disruption for rail passengers in Scotland.

Disruption to trains between Glasgow Queen Street and Crianlarich / Oban is expected until the end of Monday and the Highland Sleeper will not run between Edinburgh and Fort William, after the line was damaged by heavy rain.

The line between Ardlui and Crainlarich will not reopen until 22 August, Network Rail said.

The line between Fort William and Mallaig is also blocked after a steam train struck a tree, while a fallen tree damaged overhead lines at Bishopton, leading to services being suspended between Glasgow Central and Gourock.

Brittany Ferries has also cancelled its services between Poole and Cherbourg on Friday afternoon and evening and between Portsmouth and Cherbourg on Saturday.

The predicted 60mph winds prompted organisers of the Boardmasters music festival in Newquay to call the event off - just hours before its doors were due to open on Wednesday.

Houghton, a dance music festival in Norfolk, was also cancelled just hours before it was due to start, its "devastated" organisers announced on Facebook.

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta has been scaled back, while the National Eisteddfod music festival in north Wales said it had "contingency plans" in place.

The first stage of the maiden Women's Tour of Scotland was abandoned two hours into the race due to "extreme weather conditions".

In Lancashire, the first day of the Blackpool Air Show has been cancelled, with wind speeds of up to 45mph forecast, while St Annes International Kite Festival has been rearranged for September.

In Plymouth, Saturday's Pride festival has been cancelled due to high winds, as has the first day of Ocean City Blues 'n' Jazz Festival on Friday.

Chester's Pride event has also been postponed because of the weather, while all Saturday races at Cowes Week sailing regatta on the Isle of Wight have been cancelled.

The rain warning covers Whaley Bridge, where residents were recently evacuated after a dam above the town was damaged.

Derbyshire Police said the residents, who were allowed to move home on Wednesday, would be "the first to know" if the water in the Toddbrook Reservoir reached a "level of concern".

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