A tornado warning is in place for the south of England - including Berkshire - as the nation braces for 10 hours of severe weather, including heavy downpours, flash floods, and thunderstorms.

A warning, from the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro), is in force until this evening and covers large parts of the South East and parts of the South West.

The organisation said hazards include isolated brief tornadoes, hail and gusty winds of up to 50mph.

“A shortwave trough will move north east through today. Showers and isolated thunderstorms are already present around parts of south west and South England and these will tend to move north east through this morning, with other showers and a few thunderstorms developing inland via diurnal heating,” said Torro.

The warming comes amid the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for much of the South and South East.

A spokesperson from the weather agency said: “Slow moving showers and thunderstorms will develop through the afternoon, merging into a large band of heavy rain through the evening, before clearing slowly south overnight.

“Some places, especially across central and eastern parts of the warning area, are likely to receive 30-40mm in three hours or less, and perhaps 50-60mm or more in around six hours.”

“This rain will fall onto already saturated ground and affect communities recovering from recent flooding. Travel disruption and further flooding is likely, with rivers continuing to rise after the rain clears.”