Residents in towns in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire have reported streets being under water after heavy rain. Pictures on social media showed parts of Dunstable and Hitchin hit by downpours, with shops and cars partially submerged. Flood warnings have been issued for areas near the River Lee in Luton and the River Ivel at Langford.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain will persist across parts of the UK, as summer officially comes to an end. Thunder and lightning, hail and rain struck various parts of the country on Saturday, including Luton,

The massive band of weather stretches from the Isles of Scilly in the far south west to the right across the North Sea as far as Denmark.

Heavy rain has caused flash flooding in parts of Herefordshire. Ed O'Driscoll, who represents Ross-on-Wye on Herefordshire Council said the water had been knee-deep in places in parts of the town.

A weather warning for thunderstorms and heavy showers is in force across much of southern England and Wales. The Met Office says damage to buildings as a result of lightning strikes, disruption to public transport and flooding should be expected within the affected areas.

Further heavy rain is forecast for parts of the UK following a spell of intense thunderstorms. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heavy rain across central and southern England during the early hours of Monday.

Britons are being warned of more heavy rain next week after a weekend washout of thunderstorms causing weather chaos. An urgent weather warning has already been issued for the weekend across a vast area of the UK.