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

A warning for heavy rain across Greater Manchester on Sunday has been issued by Met Office forecasters. The Met Office said on Sunday morning it had updated and extended an alert already in place to cover the whole of Greater Manchester.

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.