Flash flood warning as UK faces heavy downpours after record drought

• The Met Office has warned of a risk of flash flooding across parts of the UK as heavy rain falls on ground baked dry by drought.
• Morecambe in Lancashire recorded 52.5mm of rain in 24 hours, representing a third of the region's total rainfall between June and mid-August.
• The National Drought Group warned that current rainfall is insufficient to end the drought, with UK reservoir levels falling to 62.6 per cent.
• Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue before sunnier conditions return over the weekend, ahead of further rain next week.
• Hydrologists warn that several months of sustained autumn and winter rainfall will be required for water resources and river flows to recover.