Warnings issued as heavy rain and strong winds forecast across UK on Wednesday

Heavy rain, strong winds, and even snow, could fall as Storm Gerrit makes landfall across the UK on Wednesday.

The Met Office have issued yellow rain and wind warnings across most of the country ahead of the latest named storm this year.

Gusts of 50-60 mph, and 70 mph on higher ground, are expected across north-west England, coastlines in the south and south-west of the country, and western Wales.

There's also warnings that 40-60 mm of rain could fall across Northern Ireland, western Wales and north-west England - with up to 90 mm possible on higher ground in Wales and west of the Pennines.

The Met Office have also issued a yellow warning for snow in Northern Scotland and the Northern Isles.

They say snow could fall in areas above 200 metres.

Most warnings come into force in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and are scheduled to remain in place until the evening.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said the naming of the storm was a warning to people travelling home from their Christmas holidays.

"Due to the extent of the warnings that are being issued, it was deemed that a named storm would be a good idea because it will highlight to the public the risk associated, particularly as tomorrow is likely to be quite a busy day on the roads with people travelling back home from Christmas and things like that."

The Met Office say travel disruption, especially to flights and ferries, is expected, and that strong winds could be dangerous to high sided vehicles.

They're also warning of power cuts and localised flooding, as well as large waves causing disruption to sea fronts.