A yellow ‘be aware’ weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for the south east today thanks to heavy thundery showers.

Sun worshippers who have enjoyed the recent fine weather should be prepared for a change in conditions with a mixed period on the way.

Forecasters say much of the country will experience bouts of heavy rain, showers and sunshine in the coming days, while the longer outlook for the summer holidays is unclear.

The Met Office has issuing a yellow weather warning for the south east, with heavy rain expected until 7pm.

Forecaster Helen Waite said "thunder and intense downpours" were likely while the maximum temperature would be around 24C (75F).

The south is forecast to enjoy better weather on Tuesday, but unsettled conditions are likely to envelop most of the country by the end of the week and continue into the weekend.

Ms Waite said: "It's not going to be as hot as it has been. There's a chance there will be a build-up of high pressure which will lead to unsettled conditions but there are no strong signals beyond that."

July has been hot and humid, with a heatwave hitting much of the country in recent days.

On Friday sudden storms hit the great summer holiday getaway with lightning strikes leading to rail passengers encountering delays and cancellations on busy commuter routes.

The soaring temperatures have also led to a spate of deaths in Britain's lakes and rivers, with police and other emergency services urging people to be aware of the hazards of attempting to swim in open water.