Record heavy rainfall causes travel disruption

Heavy rainfall hit the island overnight leading to localised flooding

The island was hit by a record level of rain for an April day overnight leading to travel disruption due to localised flooding.

Ronaldsway Met Office said 1.8in (45.2mm) of rain fell over a 24-hour period, beating the previous record of 1.5in (38.5mm) set in 1971.

It came as an amber weather warning was in place heavy rainfall overnight.

The blustery conditions also led to the cancellation of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's morning sailing of the Manxman from Douglas to Heysham and its afternoon return.

A yellow weather warning for inner harbour flooding was put in place until 14:40 BST, with the Tongue and Lake Road in Douglas and Mezeron corner and West Quay in Ramsey most at risk.

Forecasters issued a similar warning for coastal overtopping with a risk of debris being washed onto Peel Promenade during the same period.

The National Sports Centre was closed because of the high level of the River Douglas

As a result of the conditions, the National Sports Centre was closed to enable flood defences to be put in place to safeguard against the rising of the water level of the River Douglas, which runs through its grounds.

The complex was previously hit by severe flooding in 2015.

George Shimmin of Ronaldsway Met Office said the amount of rainfall seen was "rare" for the island, and there had only been three occasions where 1.3in (30mm) or more had been recorded since records began in 1947.

The conditions would cause "fairly significant" surface water flooding in prone locations, he added.