Storms are heading to Britain, bringing more heavy rain and wind.

A deep depression coming in from the Atlantic is set to centre over Scotland before moving out into the North Sea by Friday.

Andy Ratcliffe, a forecaster with the MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Overnight an intense area of low pressure will hit the UK bringing strong wind and heavy rain.

"It will turn brighter from the West after the rain, with showers which could be quite heavy, especially in the North West where there could be rumbles of thunder.

"Overnight tomorrow it will remain windy for most, with showers continuing.

"It will be a deep depression, but nothing unusual for this time of year.

"The strength of the wind will definitely be noticeable."

The gales follow similar bad weather earlier in the week which brought flooding to parts of Southern England.

Snow that fell on the North Pennines and the Scottish Highlands is stilll lying on tops of the hills, particularly around the border of County Durham and Cumbria. Temperatures on the peaks are barely above freezing, much cooler than in the surrounding dales.