More rain expected as another show cancelled

A band of heavy rainfall is expected to move north today, with conditions remaining unsettled throughout the coming weeks.

Bingley Show, due to take place on July 21, in Myrtle Park, became another casualty of the poor weather yesterday.

Organisers said the venue was waterlogged in places, and with more rainfall forecast, it would not dry out in time for the show.

Hull’s Hessle Road Carnival and Pram Race, due to take place tomorrow, has also been called off, the latest in a series of events, including the Great Yorkshire Show, halted because of the downpours.

In York, spectators heading to the racecourse for the start of the two-day John Smith’s Cup meeting today have been urged to car-share or use public transport.

More than 40,000 racegoers are expected at York Racecourse today and tomorrow, and while no problems are expected with the weather following a much-improved forecast, there may have to be some parking changes if the ground becomes churned up.

No difficulties, however, are foreseen with the hard-standing parking for the 400 coaches expected at York tomorrow.

The bad weather is set to continue today with the heavy rain moving across the Midlands, East Anglia and parts of northern England.

Gemma Plumb, forecaster at MeteoGroup, the Press Association’s weather division, said parts of England and Wales also face the risk of thunderstorms and localised torrential downpours.

Saturday will see scattered showers with the risk of thunder and heavy rain bursts in southern and eastern parts of England, but Sunday could bring a dry spell to large swathes of the UK.

Heavy rain caused flash flooding in Shepton Mallet, near Glastonbury in Somerset when up to 30mm of rain fell in two hours leaving cars stranded and roads under water. The area around Christchurch, near the Dorset coast, also saw about 52mm of rain in just three hours.

Over the next few weeks, however, the unsettled weather will continue.

Victoria Kettley, forecaster for Meteogroup, added: “For the southern half of the UK it’s not looking too bad.”

But after Sunday: “It’s looking unsettled for the time being.”