Storms rage across Shropshire and Mid Wales in hot and humid weather

A van was left stranded up to its windows in flood water after a driver attempted to make their way through a swollen ford on the Shropshire border.

The white van was half submerged in water at Trescott Ford, just off the A454 Bridgnorth Road, just after 5pm on Saturday.

The ford is notorious for flooding during wet weather and Burke Brothers Recovery were dispatched to pull the van back to safety.

Meanwhile, the B4398 in Maesbrook, Oswestry was closed near Maesbrook Farm after power lines fell into the road in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The road was closed from 8am until about 2pm.

Elsewhere in the county, fire crews were called to Albrighton to release a car which had been stuck in flood water on the A41.

The town's fire fighters were dispatched to the scene just after 8am on Saturday but the car was moved before their arrival.

Another car became stuck in the flood waters early in the morning on Sunday, spotted abandoned by Shifnal and Albrighton Safer Neighbourhood Team.

The road remained closed throughout the weekend while the water was drained.

Fire crews were also called to a property in Gravel Hill Ludlow, where water was affecting the electrics just after 6.30am on Saturday.

Telford & Wrekin Council also issued a warning for the Coal Brook in Ironbridge due to the heavy rainfall.

The council posted a message on its Twitter account on Friday which said: "If you live near the Coal Brook there's very heavy showers forecast and possible risk of flash flooding. Refer to your flood pack."

There was also flooding on the A454 Bridgnorth Road in Shipley.

Trains delayed because of lightening striking crossings between Hereford and Shrewsbury.

But the stormy weather failed to prevent several top events taking place across the county - with thousands of people turning out in Wem for the annual Eckford Sweet Pea Festival.

Chairwoman of the Eckford Sweet Pea Committee, Wyllis Turner, said: "Its gone very well which is surprising considering the weather."

And the rain encouraged even more people to take part in Saturday's Lilleshall Mud Run.

Up to 30mm an hour fell in some places across the UK - more than the average monthly rainfall for the whole of July.

Shropshire itself saw 29.4mm.

Dave Throup, a spokesman for the environment agency, said: "The Met Office 12 hour report between 6am and 6pm yesterday confirmed Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Shropshire were the focus of the heaviest rain."

But after the torrential downpours and widespread thunderstorms, sun worshippers could be in for a treat - another heatwave is just around the corner.

Temperatures are likely to soar again this week, with the mercury possibly topping 30C (86F) for a three-day spell from Wednesday.

But the hot and humid weather could spark more thundery downpours.

Weather warnings remain in place today, with the Met Office issuing a "yellow" warning of rain for eastern England and Scotland, forecasting thundery showers with torrential downpours, lightning, hail and strong gusts. Central and western areas are largely dry and clear, with sunshine.

Gemma Prebble, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said the worst of the bad weather is over, with temperatures today reaching a maximum of 26C (78.8F) in the South East and 20C to 24C (68F to (75.2F) across the rest of the UK.

Ms Prebble said it is likely to be very warm for all of next week, saying: "By Tuesday there will be highs of 28C (82.4F) in the South East and on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it will possibly be up to 30C (86F)in the South East."

The heat is again likely to bring with it the risk of heavy showers and thunder storms, especially in the South, on Wednesday and Thursday, but the warm spell is likely to stretch on into the following week, Ms Prebble said.