Flash Flood Warnings As Storms Hit Britain

Stormy weather has hit Britain bringing thunder, lightning and torrential rain amid warnings of flash flooding in areas where as much as 60mm of rain could fall in a few hours.

Motorists have been urged to take extra caution with the Met Office issuing yellow warnings of heavy rain across parts of eastern England.

Lincolnshire, East Anglia and the South East are experiencing the worst of the weather - but the rain will also spread westwards, over to northeast England, the Midlands, eastern Wales and central-southern England by this evening.

There is severe flooding in parts of Essex with images showing the seafront at Southend under water.

Train services between Ipswich and Ely/Cambridge were temporarily disrupted earlier following a signalling problem caused by a lightning strike between Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

There has been disruption on the roads too with flooding forcing police to close Holywells Road in Ipswich which was described as "completely impassible".

Drivers have also been urged to take care amid reports of flooding on the M11 southbound between junctions 9 and 8 and the A12 London-bound at junction 14.

"Intense thundery rain across eastern England could lead to flash flooding and therefore disruption to travel," said Sky News' weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar.

"Areas most at risk will be East Anglia, Lincolnshire, the South East and the east Midlands. There may even be some flashes of lightning, especially early on.

"Rainfall could be as much as 20mm within an hour and up to 60mm throughout this morning. As well as that the winds will be strong, gusting up to 50mph, particularly across exposed eastern coasts.

"Through this afternoon the rain will spread westwards over England and towards eastern Wales. As it does, it should become lighter and the winds will ease slightly as well.

"However, the rain could cause further issues for northeast England, as heavy downpours are expected through tonight and tomorrow, so yet again there may be the risk of local flooding tomorrow."

The poor weather comes as many families enjoy a week off for half term.

Western Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to escape the stormy weather from continental Europe which has killed at least one person and injured dozens of others , including children.

A man in his forties was killed in southern Poland when he was struck by lightning as he descended the Babia Goras mountain.

Some 33 people, including 29 youngsters aged nine to 11, were hurt after a bolt hit a pitch during a junior football game in Germany.