Britain braces for a weekend of heavy storms and flooding - as Met Office issues yellow weather warning

Heavy storms are set to batter large swathes of the country this weekend, with some areas braced for flooding.

South Wales and south west England are set to experience the most severe weather, with a yellow warning for rain issued by the Met Office for those areas for Saturday afternoon.

As much as 70mm of rain could hit parts on Saturday, with another 80mm set to fall on Sunday.

Showers are expected to be heaviest in Wales on Sunday afternoon, before storms move across to the Midlands, including Worcestershire and Herefordshire, the Mirror reported.

Temperatures are also expected to cool from the mid-20Cs experienced in the south east earlier this week, with a maximum of 19C expected in Ipswich, Suffolk on Sunday.

While some areas will avoid the weather, other places, particularly in the Midlands, could see lightning and even hail, forecasters said.

The Met Office said: 'Showers and thunderstorms are expected to merge into broader areas of heavy rain across parts of Wales, central and southern England during Sunday. '

The Environmental Agency and Natural Resources Wales has issued a number of flood warnings, including four near waterways.

It comes as the River Thames burst its banks in Richmond, leaving pub-goers flooded with water.

A clip showed people holding drinks on Friday afternoon as the water reached up to their ankles.

One local said: 'It's a regular occurrence in Richmond. And the weather is beautiful. It's a great place to be. But as I say, it grounds you, because we live in coexistence with nature rather than in opposition with it.'

Pictures also showed cars immersed in water amid severe flooding in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on Friday.