The Met Office has issued an urgent update to a weather alert issued on Thursday. Thunderstorms are set to strike across a vast area of the country today with the national weather service advising that the area of effect has now changed.

The forecaster warns that damage to buildings as a result of lightning strikes, disruption to public transport and flooding should be expected.

Over a month’s worth of rain could strike in just 12 hours over the weekend, as the Met Office issues yellow weather warnings for large areas of England and Wales. Flooding, power cuts and travel disruption are also possible, as the UK braces for three consecutive weather warnings lasting from Saturday morning until 11.59pm on Monday.