Flood alerts issued for parts of UK

Every corner of Britain was set to be hit by heavy rain, according to forecasters.

And as the deluge moved north, seven flood watches across the UK were issued by the Environment Agency.

Summer holidaymakers in the South West saw their travel plans hit as more than 20mm of rain hit parts of Devon and Cornwall in the early hours.

Areas of Wales and Northern Ireland were also subjected to heavy downpours.

In central London, commuters were soaked as 5mm of rain fell over two hours before 7am.

Claire Austin, a meteorologist from the Press Association's weather division MeteoGroup, said: "There is a possibility of flooding today.

"The reason we have got so much rain is a band moving north-east.

"Northern Ireland, the Midlands, East Anglia and London have already been hit.

"There will be heavy rain and, at times, thunderstorms."