Heavy downpours, lightning and hailstones “the size of garden peas” have caused disruption across the UK, with more stormy weather set to come.

The Met Office issued an amber warning for rain which remains in place for parts of northern Scotland until 11pm as emergency services dealt with more than 50 flooding-related calls overnight on Tuesday.

Yellow warnings for rain have been issued in northwest England and wind in southwest England on Thursday and Friday, with forecasters predicting gusts of up to 65mph.

Video and images shared on social media have shown hail storms in Northamptonshire, which set off car alarms.

One social media user in Stoke described the hail as “the size of garden peas”, adding he had “never seen owt like it”.

Booth Street in Stoke and it looks like we've had snow in July… I've never seen owt like that. Hail the size of garden peas. Could of come really keen had I been outside pic.twitter.com/TZkwUI2WwD

The Met Office had received reports of hail “up to two centimetres in diameter”, meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said.

She added: “The warnings highlight those areas where the showers have been most persistent and widespread and are causing any impacts.

“That area of hail we’ve seen through Northampton, we have had reports of hail that is up to two centimetres in diameter and up to 35mm of rain falling in some places in an hour.”

Ms Shuttleworth said surface water on the road will lead to “very difficult” driving conditions, and short periods of blustery winds were to be expected.

Here's a closer look at the low pressure system that could bring these strong winds, as well as some heavy rain, tomorrow night pic.twitter.com/IoIZYk81ST

But she added that “impactful” weather was only expected to last until Wednesday evening and more “isolated” showers and thundery weather would continue over the next few days.

The choppy weather including on and off torrential rain disrupted travel and sports matches in England on Wednesday afternoon.

The women’s Hundred cricket match, due to take place at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, was called off because of the weather.

Elsewhere in Manchester, patients and staff were evacuated from Trafford General hospital after it was struck by lightning.

Firefighters were called to tackle a fire on the roof of the hospital.

A spokesperson later said that all those evacuated were safe and their families had been informed.

In Scotland, the Met Office issued an amber warning meaning “homes and businesses are likely to be flooded” and that “fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing danger to life”.

The warning covers Moray, Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and the Highlands.

Earlier, the Met Office warned that up to 80mm of rain could fall in 24 hours in some parts of Scotland.

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