The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and heavy rain across Lancashire later this week.

The yellow alert comes into effect at 6am on Thursday (August 27) and will remain in place until 10pm that evening. The warning has been put in place ahead of heavy and persistent rainfall forecast throughout the day.

Forecasters have warned that areas covered by the alert face a 'small chance of fast flowing or deep floodwater. There is also a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services and damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

A Met Office statement said: "A band of thunderstorms and heavy rain will move north across England and Wales, perhaps becoming slow moving in the afternoon and evening. Accumulations of 20-30 mm in three hours can be expected fairly widely and up to 50 mm in a 12 hour period can be expected in places.

"There is a small chance that some places may see more than 50 mm in three hours and more than 75 mm through 12 hours, especially over east facing high ground. Lightning and hail of 1-2 cm will also be hazards."

Further showers are expected between 9am and 5pm on Friday. Saturday will be dry in central and coastal areas, however, more rain is likely to fall in East Lancashire.

Thunderstorms are forecast between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday (August 30), followed by more wet weather on Bank Holiday Monday.