UK NEWS

DANK HOLIDAY: ONE MONTH'S RAIN FALLS IN TWO DAYS

WET: A tourist braves a paddle in the sea on Brighton beach

Tuesday May 27,2008

By Mark Reynolds

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STORMS and floods brought a bank holiday washout for millions yesterday.

In the South, some counties got their average May rainfall in just 48 hours.

But in the North, beaches were packed as families soaked up warm sunshine. Blackpool, Scarborough and Cullercoats near Whitley Bay all benefited.

The bad weather is expected to continue today and tomorrow, with rain moving northwards.

Weathermen warned that there was more rain to come for the whole country, with heavy showers predicted to last for another three days.

Yesterday the Environment Agency issued 16 flood warnings and Southampton Central station was closed as water covered the running tracks and the electrified third rail.

Buses shuttled passengers into the city from nearby stations.

May Day last year was particularly wet but I think this weekend has been worse.

Phil Dominey, South West Trains stakeholder manager, said: “Water and electricity do not mix so we have had to close the station for safety reasons.”

In London sections of the Underground also had to be halted because of flooding.

Motorway crashes led to huge queues, with the M4 in Neath, South Wales, worst affected along with large sections of the M25 around London.

Also hit was the M42 in Warwickshire, the M1 through the Midlands and the M2 in Kent.

A Met Office spokesman in the South said: “It’s the wettest I can remember for some time.

“May Day last year was particularly wet but I think this weekend has been worse. But of course it wasn’t wet everywhere.”

More than 20,000 people enjoyed the warmth at the Northumberland Show in Corbridge and record crowds were on the Quayside in sun-kissed Newcastle for the Evolution musical festival, to enjoy top pop acts Duffy, The Streets and Kate Nash.