AS festivities for Beltane week get underway in Peebles, the region has been warned to prepare for heavy rain and thunderstorms over the next few days.

The Met Office have issued a yellow 'be aware' warning for rain, from 3am tomorrow (Wednesday, June 21) until 6am on Thursday (June 22).

The weather could cause an issue for organisers, those participating and spectators planning to go along to several events in and around Peebles on Wednesday evening.

Those events are:

  • Cornet Installation outside the Parish Church at 6pm
  • The Principals 'Riding the Marches' at 7.15pm
  • The 'Fording of the Tweed' at 8.30pm
  • The annual horse race at 9pm at the north side of the Golf Course
  • The Cornet, Lass and Supporters dancing the reel on Peebles High Street at 10.15pm

The forecaster states that bouts of rain, heavy and thundery at times, will move in from the west to affect parts of Southern Scotland and Northern England in the early hours of Wednesday.

More extensive thunderstorms may break out over a larger part of England and Wales from late Wednesday afternoon onwards into Wednesday night, leading to torrential downpours, frequent lightning and a chance of hail.

Following the heavy rain, disruption to transport is expected on late Wednesday afternoon.

The Met Office added that this may include sudden localised flooding of transport routes, homes and businesses.