Police seize 76 zombie knives and ban 330 people ahead of Notting Hill Carnival's 60th anniversary

Festivalgoers at Reading have faced scenes like this across the weekend, with emergency teams helping those stuck in mud created by rain falling on sun-baked ground.

Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick warns Sunday will bring scattered showers moving south from Scotland, with Leeds Festival bearing the brunt of the rain — potentially thundery — by early afternoon. Reading Festival and Notting Hill Carnival can expect intermittent showers becoming more persistent through the evening, while Monday looks drier. Notting Hill Carnival is celebrating its 60th anniversary since 1966, and Sunday's main procession is set to attract considerably larger crowds than Saturday's Panorama steelband opening. The grim conditions cap a weekend of mud and ponchos at Reading, Leeds and Creamfields after the UK's record-hot summer ended abruptly with storms.

Flood warnings were issued for Smestow Brook in the West Midlands and Tanyard Stream in Kenilworth after 32 Birmingham properties were inundated.

The Environment Agency says 71.3% of England remains in drought despite the deluge — August has so far received only 34% of its expected rainfall.

One Creamfields festivalgoer, Andrew McDonnell, described a 'huge bolt' striking overhead and campsite conditions as 'muddy and swamp-like, especially first thing in the morning.'

GB NewsUK weather: UK's biggest music festivals battered by rain as Met Office issues yellow thunderstorm warnings The SunFestivalgoers brave rain as winds and thunderstorms kick off bank holiday Evening StandardFlood warnings and alerts issued as more heavy rain forecast Evening StandardFlooding hits Birmingham as storm warnings cover much of England and Wales Evening StandardHeavy rain subsides as Charli XCX takes to stage at Reading Festival

Read today's full feed at The Newshound →