Heavy rain hits sport and roads

HEAVY rain ruined sport and made driving hazardous as up to half an inch fell in the South yesterday.

Cricket was cancelled at Lord's, where England were due to play the second Texaco Trophy one-day international against New Zealand.

Conditions were also hazardous at Wembley Stadium, where Woking beat Runcorn 2- 1 in the FA Trophy final and England are due to play Norway today.

The AA said the weather caused a series of minor accidents on the M25, which led to tailbacks of about four miles. In Avon, rain may have caused an electrical fault which left M4 motorway signs indicating a speed limit of 80 mph.

The worst of the weather was on the south coast, where up to half an inch of rain was expected to fall yesterday - the average total for May is only 1.8 inches.

Misery was heightened with winds of up to 30mph, mist, coastal fog and temperatures about two degrees below average. Some areas of southern England were also expected to have thunderstorms.

A spokesman for the Meteorological Office said: 'There has been some bright weather this month but people tend to remember the dismal Saturdays. At the moment, Scotland is the place to be.'

The forecast is for an improvement today and tomorrow in the South, although showers will continue. Northern England and Wales will be cloudy and wet in the morning but the rain will become lighter and patchier. Scotland will have the best of the sunshine.