Met Office issues yellow weather warning for East of England

The Environment Agency has also issued new flood warnings

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for the East of England.

It said weekend rain could lead to flooding and disrupt travel in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk .

The warning is in force between 19:00 GMT on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday.

The Environment Agency separately issued several flood "warnings" for areas in the region.

The Met Office said the yellow warning meant that "flooding of a few homes and businesses" was possible.

Officials said spray and flooding on roads would probably make "journey times longer" and bus and train services would "probably" be affected.

"Rain will become persistent and at times heavy across eastern parts of England during Saturday evening, lasting into Sunday," a Met Office spokesperson said.

Met Office warning system

• The Met Office used yellow, amber and red weather warning codes

• Yellow warns that weather will cause "some low level impacts"

• Amber warns of an increased likelihood of "impacts" which could "disrupt your plans"

• Red warns that "dangerous weather" is expected and people should "take action" to keep safe

The Environment Agency separately issued four Cambridgeshire flood "warnings".

Motorists and residents in areas around Peterborough, Godmanchester and St Neots were told to expect floods.

The agency issued five flood warnings in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire - in areas around Newport Pagnell, Bletchley, Leighton Buzzard and Simpson.

Officials also issued a warning about flooding around Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk.

They issued three "alerts" in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire and said flooding was "possible" in Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire.

The agency said residents should be ready to "take action to protect your property" and should "take care on riverside roads and footpaths".

It added that residents should not put themselves "in unnecessary danger".

Flood alert system

• The Environment Agency uses codes to alert people to flooding, a government guide says.

• Flood Alert means flooding is possible and people should be prepared

• Flood Warning means flooding is expected and "immediate action" is required

• Severe Flood Warning means "severe flooding - "danger to life"